OK! is more than ok~

I almost forgot to make an entry for Frances' OK! contest up until i saw my OK! magazine under the bed. I was cleaning my room (thoroughly) & i didn't notice that it was hanging on the edge of my bed until i moved it.

Anyways, for those who doesn't know Frances or her blog, you have to check it out. She is friendly & she 1 of the people that i look up to when it comes to blogging. I like how she does random blogging & makes her readers feel like we are a part of her. Since i want to show her my love (& i want a chance to take home the prize too!hehe) this would be my entry for her contest.

As what i said, i was cleaning my room & i immediately took a pic without bothering to put on make-up so im on my au naturelle.

By the way, my expression speaks for itself what i think about the article.

I love the The Best & Worst of 2009.
I like looking back at the things that happened for the whole year before a new year starts.


I totally have to agree with the choices for The Belles of the Red Carpet, i remember watching Fashion Police before & they also picked Anne Hathaway as 1 of the best dressed!

As for the Cringe Couture...*frowns*


I can totally forgive Miley Cyrus for wanting to be a walking-mermaid-with-all-the-ginormous-scales gown, but not Leighton Meester. I have never watched Gossip Girl, but i often hear that GG has 1 of the hottest fashion & tidbits so i was surprised to see her don that it's-too-painful-to-look-at-her type of costume (yep!costume!)


Same with the Crazy Controversies section.


Who would forget the Rihanna-Chris controversy? That has tongues wagging for like months! I personally don't talk about entertainment news with my bf, but when i told him about this, even he had a say about Chris! Though i was surprised that Tiger Woods scandal is not included...

The OK! Tributes just had me going 'awwww.....'
(& i think me looks stupid in this pic XD)


Although the biggest pic there is MJ, but i was looking straight at Patrick Swayze. 1 of my favorite movie is Dirty Dancing, it's a classic! He had me falling in love for men who can dance & Patrick Swayze can dance! He looks so wild & virile while twirling Baby on the dance floor! In the OK! pic, he had matured, but his rugged boyish charm is still there.

Farrah Fawcett is (yep!not was) a great person. I watched the documentary of her when she got sick & it gave me a glimpse of her 'real life'. Never giving up until her last breath. What an amazing person!

Aside from the The Best & Worst of 2009, i also like OK! Exclusive article about Ewan McGregor 'Soaring High'.

Since the article is big, i can't hold it up so i just decided to put an thumbs up pic of it.hehe

I knew him because of his stint as Obi Wan Kenobi & his role in Trainspotting, but he made me gooey when i watched Moulin Rouge! Another movie fave of mine is Moulin Rouge! & boy can he sing! It only goes to show that good looks also comes with another great talent.

The article made me get to know him as the man, not the actor. His thoughts on 'big' & 'small' movie budget, memorable places, bike trip & more. I would like to see how he was starstruck-ed..boy! that would be hilarious...LOL!

Overall, i enjoyed reading the magazine. When i took it home, mom actually asked me for it & to think that i haven't even opened it yet. So she was the one who read it first....then little bro...then my other brother...then finally ME.

My family loves OK!
Keep up the good work, Frances!
^_~

For those who can't avail this OK! issue, what do you think about the best & worst of 2009 issue of the mag?

ps:
Yesterday, when i passed by the grocery i already saw the January issue of OK!. I didn't even realize that it was OK!...it's pink & cute. I'll buy it when i do my groceries.

Hope you all will have a great New Year Celebration!
^_^

Happy New Year!

Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack Review

I know i've been lagging on my product review posts. I apologize for it.

I just haven't found the time to do reviews, but i would like to leave the year with a product review before i post in another haul. I changed my mind, instead of posting product reviews next year, why not now?! although i fear it's not really up to my standard, but since i have a couple of request so i'm posting this already.

I'll start it with the Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack. This is the darkest clay mask that i found. This is best suited for Oily & Pimple-prone skin.

The main ingredient "Neem" known as the Divine Tree is commonly used in the Ayurvedic medicine. It is used as an acne treatment aside from it being antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral,etc. So it is really good!

It also has Turmeric, which, same with Neem is also an antiseptic & anti-oxidant, while Fuller's Earth is a type of a green clay that works best for oily/acne-prone skin. You can click THIS to find out some info that i posted about different types of clay masks.

It is available here (in the Philippines), so for those who wanted to give this a try you can drop by at Watson to buy it. It is only Php 199 ($4.25 approx).

This is the description based on their website:

Action:

Clears skin and prevents outbreak and recurrence of pimples. Rejuvenates and firms up the skin. Imparts natural glow. Antibacterial purifying Neem Face Pack regulates excess oil secretion, cleans clogged pores and prevents recurrence of pimples. Improves skin texture. Neem, well known for its antibacterial properties, helps in controlling acne and pimples, and their recurrence. Further, when combined with Turmeric, it effectively eliminates acne-causing bacteria. Fuller's Earth (Multani Mitti) cools and soothes the skin.

As for the back label:


Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque is way bigger than this. Julep Mask is 8 oz. while this one is 5.3 oz. If you read my review on Queen Helen Mint Julep Masque, you'll see how big the opening of the tube. This one has a smaller opening, though it's a lot easier since it got a flip top cap (see the green cap?).


When i say dark, it is really dark!


It looks like....uhhh....mud.

What i hate about this is that the smell is so strong. It has a distinct pungent odor that is really overpowering. I will not say that it smells bad, it's supposed to smell good but i don't like it. I asked the people around to describe it but they can't.

Mum says it smells like a 'bark tree' or something, someone said that it smells flowery, my lil brother just winced his face & said "bleugh! I feel like i'm being suffocated" then put his hands around his throat...on which i gather means that he hates it!


I have to agree with lil bro on this one. It's so strong that when i applied it in the evening (in an air-conditioned room), the smell still lingers when i woke up in the morning. That's how pungent it is!

I hate face products that smell really strong! This is the ultimate BOO factor for me.


As for the directions:

Directions for Use:

Apply evenly over cleansed face and neck, avoiding the area around eyes. Allow it to dry for 10–15 minutes. Remove with wet sponge and wash the skin with cool water. Use once or twice a week.

When applied, this is how it would look like


Im already saying in advanced that i don't have a before & after photo because i didn't notice that the after photo is really blurred. I only knew it when i already washed it off, apply moisturizer & transferred it on my pc. So i'll just be stating my observations.

This is how it looks like when its wet.


I allowed it to dry for 15-20 minutes just so that you can see how it looks like. It is one hard clay! I had to use warm water, not cold to remove it. But it still didn't budge. I have to scrub my face to be able to remove it. That's because i let it really dry. I guess it doesn't need to be as dry like this.

I let it dry because i'm not sure if you will be able to see how it absorbs the oils from the skin. This is how it looks like when its dry.

See my nose?
The oils are absorbed by the clay!

Now, on to my observations.
I like that it really does absorb my oilies...better than Queen Helene, i think. The next day, my face is not as oily as it was compare to before i use it.

As to the 'after' result, my zits decreased in size & also in redness. The size of my pores were also reduced.

But what i really hate about it is the smell! OMG! Much as i like how it helps keep my oilies at bay, but i can't risk my olfactory nerves dying everytime i use it.


Pros:

• cheap
• available locally
• helps control oil
• hygienic packaging
• it works!
  

Cons:

• overpowering smell (if you don't mind products like so, then you might like it)

It says at the back that it has no harmful chemicals, it might be so, but again, i prefer my face products to be fragrance-free because i fear that additional fragrance as just 'additives' that might cause harm on people with sensitive skin. This is just my opinion,ok? Don't take what it is as a professional 'reasoning',ok?

Will i buy it?
No, because of the smell.

No matter how good this mask is, i won't risk my olfactory nerves. I have a very sensitive sense of smell. When i say sensitive, it is really sensitive! I can smell people who are smoking 10 feet away from me (im serious,people). I feel like i am being suffocated every time i use this. I so hate how the way it smells!

I won't mind it if it is fragrant, but too much is not good. Im sure you have been to Lush store already. Lush has a distinct strong smell because of all the soap there. Think of this as like that. That's how strong it is. This is actually the sole reason why i don't use this.

I can grow to like this if it were not for the way it smells. For those who wanted to try this but is wary of the smell, try to take a sniff first to see if you can take it before you purchase it.

There are other face pack that are suited for everyone's skin type. Just click the name to be directed to the page.

• Himalaya Herbals Purifying Mud Pack
  
• Himalaya Herbals Refreshing Fruit Pack
  
• Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack
  

There ya go!
Hope you find this review helpful, even though i feel like i just ranted because of how it smells. Sorry if i took like forever in making a review.

Jaa ne~!
^_~

Etude House & MAC Haul

Yesterday, i went to SM Megamall to check out Etude House. I was so busy with the Holiday preparations that i was not even aware that Etude House has already opened up. I only get to know that through sis Gracie.
Ekkkk!!!
Good thing that we get to talk through facebook.

Anyways, I was looking For Etude House & when i saw it i was delighted by the color....it's so pink & girly but oh so small! I hate stores like that. You won't even have space to maneuver & go over their products without bumping to the person next to you.


These are my Etude House purchase

• Nail Polishes
• Fresh Nailwash Safe Polish Remover
  
• Mascara Remover
• Cleansing Dream Fresh Cleansing Water
• Color me Nude Lip Concealer
  

When your total purchases reach a certain amount they'll be giving away a freebie. In my case, i spend more than a thousand pesos & they gave me a free lash curler. The SA gave me a free box of cotton pad because i told her that i have to remove my make-up afterward. So she just included the cotton pads. How nice of her...

The prices are really so cheap! Way cheaper than The Face Shop!

On to my rant...tsk tsk tsk
I don't want to rant as much as possible, but i need to!

I promised myself that i won't be buying any eye make-up so i looked at their nail polishes all the while chatting with the SA about their lip concealer. She said that they don't have the lip concealer yet.

Too bad because that is what i wanted the most. I don't want to buy at Ebay & wait for weeks to get my hands on it.

I was bummed when i heard that... but i still went ahead & looked through their selection. Imagine my surprise when i saw the lip concealer sitting at the end of the row!


It's either the SA that i talked to doesn't have an inkling about their products or that she was just so tired. Either way, i went about & looked again. I saw their Cleansing oil & was asking what's the difference on them since the other is said to be 'light' & the other is 'moisture' (or something like that)... I was asking if both are ok for oily skin. She said that they are just the same & the only difference is the color of the bottle.

HAH?!


What the?!

I'm sure that a company won't just use the same formula..put light & moisture on the box..put it in a different bottle & sell it as the same?!

my Aunt Fanny!

That' why i decided to not buy their Cleansing oils (just yet) & bought the Cleansing Water instead.

Now another thing....I was asking the SA about the make-up remover. Etude House has a make-up remover with the blue 'oil' on top (the lip & eye make-up remover) & the pink one (the mascara remover). I asked her what's the difference & she just said that it's just the same & the other one is only for the eyes while the other is dual purpose..for lips & eyes.

I asked her what do they need a separate remover for that if it's called a mascara remover. I was surprised when she said that you use the pink one for removing mascara only. Then you use the blue one to remove the rest!

EH?!

*sigh*

Anyway, i still bought the pink one just so to test it out. Oh my stars! If all the SA's are like this, i'm not sure i'll be asking for advices ever. She is nice & accommodating, no questions about that though not knowledgeable enough to ask for the products. At least the The Face Shop SA's are really well-trained & they sure know their products!

I'll still be going back to Etude House because there are a couple of items i want to buy. But i think i'm better off shopping alone than ask for advices.

On the other hand, I meet with a multiply seller to get the MAC lippies that i bought. I immediately paid for it & was happy with my purchase.


Yay for being able to buy it at a cheaper price!
The colors look almost alike,huh?


I bought the Hug Me & Jubilee Lustre Lipstick. I'll be providing swatches when i'm not so busy anymore. I have to say that i like it because it's really creamy, but i find it too sheer.

That would be my haul story for today. I'll try to post some more but since i'll be really busy for the next couple of days, i might not be able to.

Product reviews would start next year.

I wish everybody a happy holidays & may your Christmas be really happy & bright!
Merry Christmas,girls!

Jaa ne~!
^_~

Weekend Nails:Happy holly-nails!

I'm not really good at making titles so sorry if it sounds lame...

Anyway, i was making some nail art design for Christmas. Although i'm not really going to do my nails yet, but i want to post this asap so if there is anybody out there who wanted to do a Christmas themed nails they would have an inspiration. Sorry if it looks messy, I'll provide a better pic after a couple of days..LOL

This is how my nails would look like on Christmas.

I would have to do it because i want a 'fresh' one come Christmas...i'll do it on Thursday.

I did a white one to show the colors, & i think the white is actually better than the other,ne?
I guess i'll just be using a white base the next time.

Things needed:

• your choice of base & top coat
• base color (nude/white is a good choice)
  
• red polish or red rhinestones for the holly fruit
  
• dark green polish or dark green acrylic for the holly leaves
  
• brush with long thin bristles
• hair pin or dotting tool
• gold polish for the tips
• glitter polish is optional

I don't have a green nail polish that i can used as leaves so i just used acrylic. If you have dark green polish then use it. As what you can see, i used the Viridian green, i think Phthalo Green is a better choice. I have Phthalo Green but the cap is stuck tight & i can't get to open it.

Procedure:

• Paint the base color on your nails. It's better to use either a white base or nude pink so that the holly would really show up. Just ignore the other fingers.
  

• Dip the brush on the dark green acrylic so to start making the leaves.

• I made a pattern too so that you would have an idea how to draw the leaves.

• Fill the leaves with green

• If you have red rhinestones use it, if not, then dip the dotting tool or hair pin on red polish.

• Then make 3 dots where the leaves meet...it doesn't even look like 3 dots. But just look at my middle finger so that you would have an idea.

• Apply a gold polish on the tip of your nails.

• Then top it off with a glitter polish or just a clear one. Add a quick dry top coat to make sure that it dries faster & to give it a 'plasticize' look!

I'll show you my nails maybe on my next post. But for now, hope this helped you. I used red rhinestones on the pic above as the holly fruit.

A couple more days & it's already Christmas. Can't wait to see the look on the people that i'm going to give gifts to.

Well, I know everyone's busy with the upcoming holiday preparations. Hope you all have a great day/evening!

Jaa ne~!
^_^

strawberry.net & blogsale haul

As i said on my last post, i have a package waiting to be picked up. I went to the PO a while ago & to my surprise, i have 2.

Hurray!

One is from Strawberry.net & the other one is from ECT of e.motion of motion's blog sale.
I'm actually glad that my strawberry.net haul had already arrived, i know that now is a peak season & there's a high chance that packages would be received later than late (yeah, i use late because it's always late here).

Let's start first with the blogsale haul. I bought random items.

• ELF Studio Corrective Concealer Palette
• ELF Candy Lip Gloss in Candy Fix, Frosting Fanatic & Mocha Maniac
  
• ELF Mineral 2 in 1 Conditioning Gloss in Supermodel
  
• Everyday Minerals Start to Finish Bronzer
• NYX Lip Pencil in Pink Nude
  

Her items are so cheap! I was actually not expecting that it would be able to receive it already since i just bought it a couple of weeks ago. But hey, im not complaining! i love early packages!

Now on to the Strawberry.net haul. I'm so excited about this because the box is huge!


It's because the curled styros are all over the box to make sure that the items are safe & sound...


These are what's inside!

I was seriously debating if im going to open it up already since it's gonna be christmas. Just so that i'll have something to open & enjoy on that day

But then i know that it's silly if i'll do that because i already know what's inside..LOL about that..

Anyway, on we go to the content

• Benefit B-Spot Fragrance coffret
  
• Benefit She Laq Sealer
  
• Silver Necklace with a snowflake pendant

The necklace is so cute!

Perfect for the winter, don't you think?
Im not exactly a necklace person but i think this looks really cute! I'm not sure if i'm going to use this though....

One thing that i'm very curious about is the sealant. I know how it works, but i want to see for myself if it does work! So i got myself this!

As always, Benefit has that cute packaging! It looks so mysteriously magical.


This is the back carton


These are what's inside

I don't think the brushes are actually good enough, but hey it's still a freebie!
I'll let you know what i think about it as soon as i have tried it.

Lastly is the Benefit B Spot coffret


I already had my first experience of B Spot thanks to Sarah, when she included a sample of it on her love package. I like it then & was actually surprise to realize that this lasted on me for like a whole day!

I sprayed it in the morning..i thought that the scent disappeared right around afternoon, but it seems like i just got immune to it. Bf told me later on that i still smell good. I think this is the only Eau de Toilette that lasted on me..to think that this is not a Eau de Parfum! great staying power~

I'm actually glad that the scent is not wrong for me...

I did not realize that the packaging got silhouettes of women. I only realize it when i looked at the back.

Not wanting to sound a nymphomaniac but after seeing this from a far, i thought it was G spot plus the silhouette of the woman


Going back, these are what's inside.

• B Spot EDT full size
• B Spot EDT sample size
• handy mirror

I like how 'cool' it looks. The Pastel green is very nice to look at!

As for the bottle, it's just round, nothing interesting.

I'm really very happy with my haul. Looks like i've been a good girl because Santa delivered it earlier!


Now what has been keeping me busy?
Gift wrapping!

I decided that i want to have a red & blue gifts this christmas so i have to buy a lot of metallic foils & double sided tape just for that...plus the ribbons too.

Actually, i changed the color of the ribbons today compare to this pic. Blue gifts got red ribbons & red gifts got blue ribbons.

I'm not yet even halfway done with all the wrapping.

But it's ok since i'm mostly done with christmas shopping. Though i still have 2 more people on my list that i don't really have an idea what to get....I guess i'll be finish with my list this weekend!

I like looking at a color coordinated gifts..though not quite yet because again, i haven't changed the ribbons on my gifts when i took this pic, but now they are already color coordinated. yay!

The white holographic gift is actually the gift for bf. Just so that it would stand out to signify that it is special..LOL

How about you?
Do you have a theme for your gifts?

Hope you are enjoying your day/evening,ladies!

Jaa ne~!
^_~