~on beauty stuff and what else's....~

Spotted: Klik Dotting Tool

2012-01-29T11:33:00.000+08:00

Another short & quick spotted post.
Yesterday, i dropped by Landmark Trinoma & saw the new nail art products from Klik. They are definitely upping their products by introducing these at lower prices.

Anyway, this dotting tool set only costs Php 54.75 (less than a dollar)!

Cute,huh?

These are the ends of both, then the dot sizes that it can make at the bottom pic. Just click it to enlarge it.

They have hexagon glitters, flakies & also nail art brush set! Based on what i can remember the glitters are sold in 4 kinds for less than Php 50, the set of 4 flakies for a little more than the glitters & the brush set for Php 150 (i think?).

When you drop by at Landmark make sure you take a look at it. Dotting tool is one of the most versatile nail art tool. Wait for my how-to post about designs you can make using it.

Hope you all are enjoying your sunday!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

I'm a winner!

2012-01-27T19:16:00.001+08:00

Just a short post.
I received a package today. Good thing i didn't went out because i planned to go out. LOL!

I won Mysweetfix's giveaway. Yay!

It was a heavy package!
Look at all the goodies!
^_^

The Beauty Angel palette is nice,no?

The blushes look great!

I was most excited about the Guerlain bronzer & lipstick!
Let me tell you, i'm not really a bronzer fan but this shade is something that i could love!

The lipstick looks great too!

I tried it on my lips & i can still feel it on. I have pigmented lips to start with so the color doesn't show that much. I think that this would be great for those who doesn't have pigmented lips.

I'm glad that i was able to have a chance of trying out other Guerlain products because the only one that i have tried is the Meteorites! Now i know that spending thousand of bucks for this brand is truly worth it! hahaha!

I am a winner indeed! Thanks,Hansley, for choosing me as your winner! Sorry for being so makulit ha. XD
Made my day really really happy!
Yatta~!

Hope you are enjoying your evening,hunnies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

my first franken polish:midnight fantasy

2012-01-26T14:09:00.002+08:00

I was able to successfully franken my own polish! Yay for my first try!
^_^

When i shook the bottle & saw the myriad of colors the name "Midnight Fantasy" just popped on my mind. I think the name really fits the color,don't you think so?

It's a multichrome holographic polish!

Kirei,de sho?
Beautiful,isn't it?

Here are some swatches.

It's hard to take pics of holographic polishes because my camera can't quite capture the awesomeness of the color play.

The base is a multichrome that has bronze, green, gold, pink & violet that shows depending on the angle. Like right now, as i type it looks orangeish/pinkish when indoors! It makes my heart go doki doki with i happen to just glance at my nails.

The touch of holographic on it magnifies the myriad of shades that when hits by the light gives that amazing burst of colors!

You can take a look at the short video here to see how it is under the sunlight.

I'm glad that i was able to make a great polish with the materials that i have! I hope that i'll be able to make lots more gorgeous shades!

I will be making a follow-up of my nail art brush post the next time & how to grow strong nails.

Hope you all are having a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Lunar New Year nail decals + The New You~

2012-01-21T15:59:00.002+08:00

Just a couple more days & it's going to be the start of another lunar new year~
I'm going to have a long weekend because my students won't be having a class this monday & tuesday! Yatta~

Anyway, continuing with the topic, KKCenterhk was kind enough to provide me with water decals that i could use for my nail arts.

I browsed their extensive list of products & saw this cute decal that would be perfect for my new year nail art! You can see it HERE.

Kawaii de sho?
Cute,huh?
I love water decals! You can have a beautiful & quick nail art just by sticking it on.

Since my nails are not long enough to put some intricate designs on so i just put it on top of China Glaze Gr8.

I just love holo polishes!
Who doesn't?!

Very easy but still very festive especially when the sun hits my nails... the play of colors is just simple breath-taking!

On to the other news, there's a new magazine in town called The New You.

THE NEW YOU MAGAZINE is a quarterly publication on personal reinvention. Their almost 200 page magazine has various sections on Wellness, Health and Beauty, including Plastic Surgery (invasive and non-invasive). They features clinics, spas, physical therapist, surgeons, dermatologist, and dentists who are involved in physical transformation.

Don't they all look so ravishing!
It's amazing how it's now possible to almost defy your age,ne?
Anyway, as what i said before, age is just a number! If i'll look half as beautiful as Eula Valdez when i reach her age then i would gladly wait for that time!

I'm actually a late bloomer & i'm sure you all know that i haven't tried a lot of aesthetic procedure. I'm not against it or anything. I would be trying them all in due time but for now i think this magazine would be a great source of information not just for those who have tried such procedures but for those who wanted to know more about it. I have to get myself a copy of this when i go to the bookstore nga.

You might wanna check out their site too for any additional info & notes. Click HERE to visit their page.

I hope that your weekend will be a relaxing one!
Have a happy day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

brush guard dupe!!!!

2012-01-17T09:28:00.002+08:00

We know that brushes are an investment. You can't have great works if you have crappy tools,right? You have to take care of your brushes just like how you take care of your make-up. How do you do that? Simple, buy a brush guard... or so the pros keep on saying.

I was browsing through Ebay one time looking for brush guards because i am getting irritated with the splayed bristles on my brushes. I placed a bid on an authentic variety pack brush guard when i saw a 1 meter cosmetic brush guard mesh for only $1. I immediately bought 3. I mean 1 meter for just a dollar... how cheap is that?!

Since it's cheap to start with i bought 3 & i think that it's a nice purchase.

Now, i'll just clear this from the start that i have the authentic brush guards in variety pack. So this would be a comparative review. A bit like a splurge or save post too..hehe

What i like about the variety pack is that it covers small to big brushes. I'm sure you have reviews about it already so i'll not bore you into details about it since this post is about the dupe.

In this picture you'll see the real brush guards compare to the 1 meter brush guard mesh protector that i am telling you.

See how different it looks from each other?
I'll give you my idea of how it works like but i'm not sure if i got it right,ok? This is just my opinion.

The real Brush Guard has several strands of nylon lined up perfectly then woven intricately. The ends were melted together to stop it from splaying & running out. The thickness of the nylon i guess helps it to "absorb" the water from the bristles then slides down to the tube for faster drying. That's most probably the logic behind it.

The brush guard has a specific size for different brushes. It doesn't mold to the shape of the brushes but retains its tubular shape when you use it... except of course when the brush has thick bristles.

Now on to the mesh protector...
Well, what do you expect...?
It's a mesh. It reminds me of fruits that are in a styro mesh to keep it protected.

It's a thin plastic mesh that molds to the shape of your brush to help retain its shape. Since this is made of plastic i don't think that it can easily absorb water from the bristles for faster drying but then this is thin enough to let the air pass by compare to the brush guard so i guess that it would somehow compensate for the material.

The ends of the brush guard are melted together, as what i said before, now the mesh protector doesn't need any melting at all because it has this hexagonal mesh that connects each other so you can just cut it freely without worrying over splayed fibers unlike the brush guard.

This is what i was saying about the shape. The mesh protector molds to the shape of your brush while the brush guard retains its tubular shape.

I'll let you know too that i don't actually like using brush guards when drying my brushes.
Why? It takes a long time for it to dry. I prefer to just air-dry as is then i put the brush guard later. I hate it when my brushes has this weird scent because it took too long to dry. I know you know what i'm talking about so don't go telling me that maybe i didn't rinse my brushes really well because i do!

This most especially happens on kabukis because they have thick bristles. The middle part of the bristle begins to smell weird if you let the bristles dry clumped together. Actually whenever i air dry my brushes i see to it that i fluff the bristles out by spreading them around to let the air circulate on it to make sure that any moisture left on the base of the bristles would totally evaporate.

Anyway, this is just my opinion.
I prefer to use the brush guard for storage not for drying them out. So if you'll ask me if it functions like the brush guard when drying i can;t answer you because i haven't tried it & i won't try it because i really hate smelly brushes!

This is how it looks like when put on a brush.
It keeps the bristles all where they are supposed to be. As long as it does the function of keeping my brushes in shape i don't care whether it's the original or not.

Now one thing that i find maybe a bit disconcerting is the length of them.
Since the brush guard's length is already fixed per brush, on which it will definitely cover the ferrule & a big allowance at the end. I thought that it is somehow a waste that 1 guard is about 2/3 the size of the whole brush itself on which you only need it for the bristles,ne?

See this pic?

The frugal in me thought of cutting it in half so i could maximize my money's worth. haha!
But i think that it will just look ugly if i do that. Again, the brush guard's shape is like a tube. I think part of its functionality is it's length too. That means i can't go on splitting it in two. I might just regret it.

Now, as for the mesh protector, i can maximize it without any problems at all.
Why? It's because it molds to the shape of the brush. It can retain the shape of the brush from the ferrule up to the end so it will not matter if you cut it really short. The shorter you cut it the more protector you have for your brush since you are the one deciding how long/short you want it to be.

The only thing is the appearance. If you cut it short it would look weird. I mean how funny your brushes would look if you have something that covers it only up to the ferrule? it would be like seeing a man wearing a high-waist beach short! haha!

But since these are just my personal brushes i don't care if they look like so as long as the shape is ok then im fine with high-waist short. LOL!

Now my main issue about this is that it will be hard to use this for tiny eye make-up brushes like angled brush for one. The mesh protector could accommodate big brushes because it could stretch wide but it couldn't really mold into small brushes,wouldn't it? You can still use it though, it just wouldn't really snugly fit those small ones.

I bought this at Ebay HERE for just a little more than a dollar ($1.04 to be exact) with free worldwide shipping. See?! That is already amazing by itself,ne? $1 + free shipping!

PROS:

works great
really cheap!
1 meter can cover a lot of brushes!
free worldwide shipping!
no need to worry of the ends running/splaying unlike the brush guard

CONS:

not locally available (but hey, they offer free shipping!)
would not really give a snug fit to small brushes, but it would still work though

With all of those said, what's my verdict?
Did i like it?
Yeah, it works great in keeping my brushes in tip top shape. It's also cheap & i get my money's worth, actually double my money's worth because if i'll compare it with the brush guards it can have 10 or more mesh protector with just a fraction of a price. The brush guards retail for more or less than $5 with just 6 pieces or so.

Will i recommend it?
Sure!
Again, i haven't tried it in drying my brushes because of the said reason but if you are looking for an affordable way to keep your brushes in shape then go ahead & get this. Your dollar is well-spent.

I won't mind buying again but since i have 3 of them i think i have enough to keep my brushes in shape for the time being.

Have you tried brush guards?
Will you still try this one then if you have the real brush guards?

Hope you all have a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
i'm not connected to the seller. i just thought of making a post about this because it works ok & it will save you money. ^_~

Etude House Apricot Sticks Review

2012-01-14T14:02:00.004+08:00

First product review for this year.. albeit, a short review. hehe

I got this when i won Milk & Cookiie's giveaway.
I have been seeing this on Etude House because of the packaging though i have to say that i wasn't really interested to start with. But it's not that bad once you start using it.

The packaging is so cute,right?

It comes in a twist-able pen that reminds me a lot of my "crayola" jumbos! haha. The kid in me is still very much alive because whenever i pass by the school supplies section of the bookstore i would squeal with all the beautiful colors surrounding me. Actually i love the scent of new crayons... same with new books... new lunchboxes & everything new!

hahahaha!
That's why i'm always excited about the first days of school.

Moving on, the shades that i have are # 8 (red) & #2 (pink). I know that it has 8 shades in all. You'll see the shade on the sticker label on the cap so you might want to keep the sticker for future reference.

I won't call these as lipsticks because they seem more like a tinted lipbalm. It doesn't feel waxy which is good & it has a nice fruity scent.

I'll start first with the pink one... #2.
Here is how it looks like when swatched. It is a cute bubblegum pink!

Unfortunately, since my lips are pigmented the colors doesn't show that much but if you have pale lips then this would look great on you!

Then this is the red one.. #8
Here's how it looks like when swatched. Doesn't that look nice?

Now this is more like it!

It's pigmented enough to give my lips a nice flush of color with just one swipe!

I have to say that compare to the ordinary lip balm packaging, this would be bigger but the color selection for this line is better. I won't say that this is actually moisturizing because i have not really found a lip balm/butter that is actually moisturizing but this locks in moisture so you're sure that your lips won't chap/dry out once you use it. I would recommend this over ordinary colorless lip balms though.

Sadly, this one doesn't have sun protection but is still a nice product to try.

It's priced at Php 198 each & is available at Etude House.

PROS:

not waxy
smells nice
locks in moisture
you can easily tell the shade based on the packaging
locally available
different shades available

CONS:

no SPF
packaging is a bit bulky as opposed to the usual balms

Will i buy it?

Sure, I'll browse the selection of Etude House for this line to see what colors would look good for my pigmented lips.

Have you tried this?

What's your favorite tinted lip balms?

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Jaa ne~!
^_^

Lucky at 19!

2012-01-13T21:53:00.001+08:00

Today is Friday the 13th & it's been said that it's an unlucky day. I don't think it's true though. Mine is ok & i'll make it better by sharing a good news to all of you.

HBC has just turned 19!
Yay! Happy Birthday, HBC!

To celebrate the special occasion they are having the Lucky at 19! promo.

I passed by HBC a while ago when i went out & they their items are on discount.

They are also having a Buy 1 Take 1 on selected San San and Allue products. An HBC anniversary gift awaits customers who can present 19 HBC receipts obtained during the SALE period.

For HBC Exclusives cardholders celebrating their birth month this January, we’re giving Gift Certificates for every P500 purchase of HBC brands. The SALE runs from January 6-31, 2012 and is open to both members and non-members.

Now's the time to grab your favorite HBC products now!
Do tell me your HBC picks,ladies.

Have a great evening!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

neutral look + Eshiko HD Powder

2012-01-13T10:17:00.003+08:00

Hi,hunnies!

I wasn't able to blog that much the past couple of weeks because i've been too busy with lots of things. I know that this year i'll be very busy because i want to gradually do a career shift. I just hope that i won't be too busy to blog. I promise to find time for blogging.

Anyways, i have been practicing & practicing on make-up applications... especially for bridal looks. Something that is natural & will just enhance what the person has & not totally change their looks. I have to say that i am not really into neutrals because i prefer bright eye make-up. So working with neutrals is something that i want to be really good at.

How hard can it be to do neutral looks,right?
It's a very safe combination of earth colors & nothing could go wrong but i still want to make sure that i know how to work with the colors & what shade would suit a certain tone best.

My camera was in a good mood the time i made this & i was able to take good pics. I need to actually bring it to Samsung because there's something wrong with the lens of it when im zooming it in so i'll be without a camera once i had it repaired.

When i went to the mall the other day & asked Samsung they said that i can only have it repaired at SM Mall of Asia... great! that's an hour or two travel away from where i live!

I'm doubly glad that my brows are looking better...finally!
Brows has been my weakness before & i think im not doing bad,ne?
hehe

Have you heard of Eshiko?

I read reviews of it, looked at pictures & it seems good. I saw a deal at awesome.ph last week so i immediately bought one. I know i said that i am on a personal make-up ban but this is just too good to passed. It's been said to be better than Make-up Forever HD Powder, how could i let it go,ne?

Smallest in the world for a flawless finish,huh?
Just a quick idea about what they're claiming..

ESHIKO™ is a 100% hydrated silica refined at the smallest size possible, smaller than all the leading hydrated silica brands. We also infuse moisture to each hydrated silica nanospheres to prevent the number one problem among all leading hydrated silica brands – Dryness of the skin. Think of ESHIKO™ as a 100% hydrated silica with an upgrade, the best hydrated silica on the market today.

I'll let you know what i think about it after i've tried it. But you might want to check this site for a comparison between this & MUFE HD. If it works that good, i wouldn't mind paying $30 for it!

I do hope that this would be a good product. I said countless of times that i never did like putting on foundation. I hope that this is something that would really work for me!

I need to catch up on my reviews. They're piling up crazily!
Next review will be about the Etude House Apricot Sticks.

Hope you all are having a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Guest Post: One-color Smokey Eye

2012-01-04T22:19:00.001+08:00

Let's open up the year by presenting a guest post. I have mentioned last year that i am opening my blog for guest posting & i'm really proud to give you our first make-up guest post by a very dear blogger friend Chrissy.

Hi ladies!
It’s me, Chrissy from Cosmetic Fixation. I've been away from the blogging scene for a long time, but I'm back with a vengeance. I'd like to thank sis Thiamere again for letting me do a guest post on her blog. Today, I'll be discussing how to do a one-color smokey eye.

For a girl like me, sometimes using too many makeup products isn’t very ideal. Even though I do love playing with many different colors, when I’m not in the mood or when I’m in a hurry I limit my choices of makeup just to simplify things. But when it comes to eye makeup, sometimes a one-color wash can take the dimension out of the eye. This is why I was grateful to learn the technique of applying a smokey eye with one color because it gives you that sexy, sultry look without over complicating things.

This look can be done with absolutely any color or shade under the sun, but for the purposes of this tutorial I'll be using black. Doing a one-color smokey eye is actually rather easy--let me show you how!

You will need:

Eyeshadow primer (optional)
1 eyeshadow shade of choice
1 highlight shade
Flat shader brush
Blending brush
Eyeliner of choice

Prime your eyelids if you wish.

With your flat shader brush, pick up black eyeshadow. To avoid fall out, tap your brush onto the back of your hand until you get rid of excess shadow.

Start patting the eyeshadow onto the eyelid. Don't worry about being messy or applying it imperfectly--it doesn't matter at this stage. Deposit enough eyeshadow so you can blend it out later on.

With your blending blush, start blending the eyeshadow upwards and outwards (shown by the arrows) in quick light strokes. keep going until you are satisfied with your blending. Stop the black shade before it reaches your brow bone!

optional: if you wish, you can stick tape on the edge of your eye to make a straight line like in the picture below.

This is what you should have so far.

At this point, take your blending brush and blend your highlighter shade on your brow bone down to the eyeshadow below. Also highlight the inner corner of your eye.

Then with a pencil brush or your flat shader brush, apply black along the outer 3rd of your lower lash line, and highlight the inner 1/3.

If you don't like the sharp line from the tape, you can blend it out with your blender brush.

Apply your eyeliner and mascara. Since I was wearing a smokey eye, I put eyeliner on my waterline and mascara on my lower lashes too. And we're done!

I finished the look with bright pink lipstick and a peachy-pink blush, but you can finish it however you like because black smokey eyes are so versatile!

Thank you for reading my tutorial on how to do smokey eyes using only one color. Don't forget to subscribe on my site for more makeup tutorials and product reviews! You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Week 8 giveaway winners~

2012-01-03T23:29:00.000+08:00

Thank you all for joining my Happy Beautiful Christmas giveaway!
We had tons of winners & i do hope that all of you are loving the HBC products that you won.

Now it's time to announce the winners of our Week 8 giveaway.
Thank you for all the wonderful pictures that you sent.

Winner 1: Analyn Alonsagay

The merry family gatherings which complete my Christmas! It is the spirit of togetherness in the cheer of Christmas that makes it so glorious, united, and bonded. ;)

Awwww.... look at that!
They even share the same shirt color. How heart warming!
^_^

This time, i choose winner 2 myself because i feel that everybody deserve to win & not leaving it to pure luck.

Winner 2: Crystal Lagman

A happy and beautiful Christmas for me is First of all thank God for the another year he's given us.greet our God a happy Birthday and celebrating with the whole family and relatives,exchanging and sharing gifts to my friends and neighbor. And the time for forgiving to the people whose been a little not so good this past few months. :) hayyy... sarap mamuhay kung walang kaaway.

That's so true!

Please wait for the email confirmation,ladies.

So with that, we conclude our HBC Christmas giveaway.
Thank you all for joining & i hope that you will continue to support us for this year.

Happy new year everybody!
May your 2012 be fruitful & lucky for each & everyone!

Have a great evening!
jaa ne~!
^_^

Weekend Nails:Checkered Pastel

2011-12-31T17:02:00.001+08:00

I can't believe that 2011 is over & done with!
Is it already 2012?
hahaha!

Anyway, i'll be posting my last weekend nail for this year. I have only a couple of nail art tutorials for the past couple of months & i apologize for that. I don't even have a Christmas nail art. So here is to hoping that i will be able to make up for not being able to do nail arts for you.

I saw this design on the Nail Up! magazine for the year 2012. I was drawn with how cheery & fun this design looks like so i thought that i would recreate it for you,ladies. I hope that with this colorful nail art, the new year will bring forth good luck to all of us!

You can tweak this design with your choice of color. I just think that pastel colors are so adorable!
It's also your choice if you are going to do a freehand drawing of ribbon or anything to add a charm, or maybe just use a decal. I just stamped a ribbon on it.

Things needed:

base/top coat
your choice of colors (acrylics or polishes)
brushes (detailing & liner brush)
glitter polish
nail stamps (or decals)
star glittered polish (optional)

Click the pic for a bigger image...

1. Apply your base coat & choose a white base color so that the colors will pop.
2. Make a checkered pattern using a light colored acrylic to serve as a guide. Make sure that they are equal because the lines at the sides would be your guide for the shape of your lunula.
3. Apply additional lines like so to make it equal.
4. When you fill in the squares, start with the lighter color, in this case i started with yellow....
5. Then pink... You can play with the color application in the pattern if you want to. You can just add random colors too!
6. Green for additional coolness & playfulness!
7. Blue to bring in a strong & bold color.. but it should still be a pastel blue.
8. With your choice of color (pink in my case), carefully draw a curve to make the ends meet to finish the lunula.
9. Fill that space up with your color.
10. You can do an additional color application to make everything look neat before you start lining the edges.
11. Using a glitter polish, outline the lines to make the checkered pattern more flirty!
12. I applied 3 stars at the middle using the stars that i have on my glitter polish.
13. To finish it off, i stamped in a cute ribbon at the lunula to give it an extra cute factor!
14. Don't forget to top it off with a top coat!

Time to admire your cute nails!~

I love this design. I have received lots of compliment with this design!
I'm sure that you will too!
I would love to see your version of this nail art too!

Hope you all will have a good start for the year 2012.
I thank you all for the blog support that i received. I hope that you will continue supporting my blog for a long time.

Hope you all will have a prosperous new year!~
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu,ne? hihihi
^_^

HBC Giveaway Week 8: Soapabolous! (CLOSED)

2011-12-27T21:52:00.001+08:00

Christmas is over but we still have one more giveaway in store for all of you. This one is extra special & i would want you all to give it your best when you answer this. This is the last giveaway for this year that's why!

I'm sure you all love christmas, ne?
Then you have to join this giveaway!

Beauty inside and out. A story of Christmas bliss is yours this week.

When we were kids, mom and dad will tell us to be good most of the time so that when Christmas comes, Santa will leave something for us. We did well in this challenge and had so much fun going back to the year that was. The Holidays call for moments of being together with old friends from college or high school, videoke nights with officemates and reunions with loved ones. Each experience has a unique story to be told and we can’t wait to hear yours.

To end the Christmas week, we’re giving you 4 of our best bath soaps from Body Recipe. You might wonder where is the beauty element here? It’s in the spirit of GIVING the gift of beauty. Thank you for being with HBC in the whole 8 Weeks to a Happy Beautiful Christmas. Now, on to the final week’s question:

What is a happy and beautiful Christmas for you? (Answer the question then post a photo of your best Christmas on your Facebook and include the Giveaway Photo below). Happy Beautiful Christmas!

giveaway photo

sample entry photo

Same rules apply: (numbers 5-8 are just for additional entry but it's not required)

Just answer the question that is posted. (required)
Follow my blog. (required)
You have to LIKE HBC's facebook page . Make a post about this giveaway on your facebook. Make sure you tag HBC & On Beauty Stuff & What Else's so that we can see it. (required)
Leave your complete name, email address & the link of the post that you made on the comment box (required)
Like my Facebook page (additional entry)
Tweet the giveaway (additional entry)
Blog about it (additional entry)
Add me on your blogroll (additional entry)

Win the set of products on the poster. One winner will be chosen as best answer & the other will be drawn randomly. Open for Phillipine-based residents only.

I know that this would take a bit of work. You can just use the paint program in your pc because i just used paint in the sample photo too.
^_~

I am a user of their calamansi & goat's milk soap ever since... especially the goat's milk soap!

Can't wait to read your christmas stories!
Hope that this year has been a very good year for all of you & here's to hoping that next year would be a better year for all of us!

Have a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Week 7 giveaway winners~

2011-12-27T21:32:00.001+08:00

How was your Christmas celebration,hunnies?
I hope that it was a very memorable one.

Sorry i was late in announcing the winners of our week 7 giveaway. I have had a very busy holiday preparations that i am hardly online at all!
*sigh*

Holiday is not yet really over since we still have new year's eve & also the new year celebration.

Let's get down to business....
Winner 1: Aida Villanueva
For me, fabulous looking nails can complete one's look, some women don't go shy in spending monies on manicures that will leave their nails looking enviable. Here are some tips to have a fab looking nails:

1. Your nails are true reflection of what you eat. Eating fast foods will in no way make your nails healthy and strong.

2. Hand lotions help to moisturize the hands and strenghthen the nails, so be sure to use them after your hands have been in water.

3. Ensure that you do not use nails or blades to remove nail polish this will do a lot of damage to the nails.

4. You can put your nail polish in the freezer so as to keep the nail polish smooth and perfect for the next use.

5. An inexpensive and quick way to fix dry or brittle nails is to use petroleum jelly. Ensure that you carry a small jar everywhere, massaging it into your cuticles and nails as you deem fit.

6. While filing nails, begin with the sides and brush towards the center, using light stroked in the samae direction. Please try as much as possible to avoid filing nails back and forth, it weakens or break the nails.

7. To get glossy and gleaming shine, rub olive oil over nails.

8. Ensure while cleaning the nails, you remove all traces of nail polish.

That's it! You will have a fab looking nail especially this Christmas.

Thanks for all the wonderful tips,hun.
I hope that it will help you all.

When you file & buff your nails (especially buffing!) do it in one directions, don't go back & forth because that it is one of the cause why nails become brittle. I have had lots of girls ask me why their nails break easily & when i ask them if they buff their nails, they will say yes. Try to buff your nails only when necessary. Buffing could weaken your nails especially if you do it back & forth,ok?
^_~

Moisturizing your cuticles/nail bed will prevent hang nails so make sure you moisturize it by using oil. I like using cuticle oils but feel free to use your preferred oil. Almond oil is good, so is olive & vitamin e!

Though i just have to say that there is one tip here that i personally don't advise... that is in putting your polish on the fridge :(

I'll make a separate post on this 'tip' one time but i really will not suggest anyone to store their polish on the fridge. Just keep it in a cool, dry place, making sure that you turn the bottle on different sides every once in a while.

Winner 2: Donna Jane Ramos Marcuap

‎I know I don't need to make my comment long , just simple :)

F-ashionable
A-dmirable
B-eautiful
U-nique
L-ovely
O-verwhelming
U-pbeat
S-assy NAILS !

1) You don't have to be an expert to give your nails that eye catching definition that makes a difference, all you need is a little bit of skill, time and practice, and soon you'll definitely be able to achieve a salon-style manicure that will receive admiration from all of your friends .
2) Nail polish has become a must have of the season, but if your nail polish gets chipped, your manicure will look disastrous. Carry your nail polish with you and repair any nail polish chips in time so that you always have lovely and flawless looking nails.

~to get rid of #2 better have hbc nail polish products! :D

Thanks for that fab answer,sweetie!
I have to say that i was drawn to your creativeness so i am doubly glad that when i clicked randomizer you were picked!
Congrats,hun!

Congrats to the winners!
Please wait for the email on how to claim your prizes.

Thanks for joining!
Jaa ne~!
^_~

Christmas haul~

2011-12-23T19:23:00.002+08:00

Can you believe that it's only a couple more hours before Christmas?!
Time flies... really flies!

I just want to post my Christmas gifts that i got for myself.
Why did i buy gifts for myself?

It's because these would be the last items that i'll be getting for myself. I promised myself that unless i completed my Make-up Artist kit, i will not buy anything for myself that's why i went all out & gave in to the items that i have been dying to get.

So my "project mua kit" will start next year... actually, that's also saying that it will start now, except for the things that i really do need i won't be buying any personal make-up items for the time being. I would have to get all the Graftobian palettes if i want to have good quality cosmetics & they are not cheap. haha!

Anyway, on we go with my small haul. You all know that i try to only buy & use products that are budget-friendly but since this is going to be my last purchase for the meantime so i decided to splurge a little. hehe

A very handy yet captivating eyeshadow palette & my most coveted finishing powder!

I have always wanted to try the MAC cool liquid powder ever since it was first released in the Venomous Villain Collection but i wasn't able to buy it back then & i really really regret not getting it because i love anything that has cooling sensation!

I'm so glad that due to public demand MAC made it as a part of their permanent line! w00t w00t!
Sugoi!!! Awesome!!!

I had to ask a friend to buy this for me in Singapore because it's quite expensive here in the Philippines. Hey, it's the most expensive time of the year & i have to save up every centavo. haha!

She even gave me some MAC pamphlets!
I love that it has pro tips written on it.

I always love MAC's packaging.
It's so simple yet sleek!

Thanks so much, hun!
You made my christmas a really enjoyable one. I shrieked when i opened the package! Thanks for the glue remover too!

I have been searching high & low for this Daiso glue remover here & it's so dang difficult to find!
Love you, sweetie!
*hugs*
Thanks again!

Then the Sun Palette Horizon by YSL is THE palette that i have wanted ever since just because i love bright shadows (though i don't do eye make-up tut nowadays) & this palette just screams color!!!!!

Housed in a really cute brown velvet pouch with the sponge applicator nestled in the tiny pocket, it is just so luxurious!

Don't you think the colors are just dee-vine?!
My heart skipped a bit when i swatched it.

It looks so pretty i'm really so hesitant on swatching it for fear of destroying the pattern.. haha!
But my fingers are too big for this adorable palette, i ended up messing a stripe on the teal shadow. It's ok because if i didn't i might end up not using it.

I was lucky enough to order this palette at Strawberrynet.com since this was a limited edition so when i saw that it was available i didn't hesitate clicking the buy now button because it screamed at me to take it home!
LOL!

This has been sitting on my "kikay kit" ever since i got it & i L-O-V-E it!
*dies*
I'm so happy that i was able to snag it!

I think i still have a couple of things that i haven't shared with you guys but that'll keep until the next posts... nothing major though. hehe. Wish me luck on the "personal make-up ban" that i have promised myself. I know that mostly when you make a promise that's when temptations really sets in,right?
tsk!

I'll be very busy tomorrow because it's Christmas Eve already. I figure so you'll be,right?
I just hope that you'll have a very happy Christmas celebration!

Have a happy holidays, peeps!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
Make sure you join my Week 7 giveaway,ok?
^_~

pps:
i've repriced my blogsale
pls check it out
^_^

Week 7:Nailicious! (CLOSED)

2011-12-19T22:05:00.001+08:00

Week 7 already!

It's almost Christmas, hunnies!!!

What are your Christmas plans?

You all know that i love making nail arts so i'm quite excited for this week's giveaway. It's all about your nails!

Tips and toes transformed with colours. A week of pampered nails is coming your way.

Do you know that in ancient Egypt, women used nail colour to signify social order with shades of red at the top? Queen Nefertiti, the wife of King Akhenaton, coloured her fingernails and toenails ruby red;Cleopatra favored crimson. Women of lower rank who coloured their nails were permitted only pale colours. (Wikipedia)

Want a perfect mani-pedi experience? Here are 5 tips from HBC:

1. Remove traces of old polish with a nail polish remover.

2. Soak nails in warm, soapy water then add a few drops of essential oil like lavender or peppermint.

3. Clip tips straight across and gently push cuticles back (resist the urge to trim them). Use a sharp nipper to cut hang nails, and lightly lift away dirt under the nail bed using an orange stick.

4. File nails to leave edges smooth after clipping. Apply lotion and spray nail surfaces with rubbing alcohol to disinfect and prep them for polish. Wipe dry.

5. Apply your choice of lacquer starting from the base of the nail brushing outwards. Use a cotton swab or a cotton-covered stick dipped in nail polish remover to remove excess polish on the sides. Finish with a coat of clear polish.

Women of today are so lucky to experiment with whatever nail colour they want, so give your nails the love they deserve with subtle to vibrant hues enriched with Vitamins C and E like San San nail polishes. Take 5 of these for yourself when you answer this week’s question:

What’s your secret to fab-looking nails? Happy Beautiful Christmas!

Same rules apply: (numbers 5-8 are just for additional entry but it's not required)

Just answer the question that is posted. (required)
Follow my blog. (required)
You have to LIKE HBC's facebook page . Make a post about this giveaway on your facebook. Make sure you tag HBC & On Beauty Stuff & What Else's so that we can see it. (required)
Leave your complete name, email address & the link of the post that you made on the comment box (required)
Like my Facebook page (additional entry)
Tweet the giveaway (additional entry)
Blog about it (additional entry)
Add me on your blogroll (additional entry)

Win the set of products on the poster. One winner will be chosen as best answer & the other will be drawn randomly. Open for Phillipine-based residents only.

Can't wait for your answers,hunnies!

Make it good,ok?

Y'all know that i love nail care & designs!

Good luck!

Have a happy day!

Jaa ne~!
^_^

Week 6 giveaway winners~

2011-12-19T21:38:00.003+08:00

Here are the week 6 winners.
^_^

Winner 1: Riza J. Llarena

I feel flawless whenever I Exfoliate my skin because it removes the dead skin cells that can make my skin appear dull and without glow. I use a scrub designed for exfoliation, once or twice a week then after exfoliating I apply moisturizer.Another thing is I’m not going to sleep with my makeup on. Lastly,I feel most flawless when I drink plenty of water.I try to drink at least eight glasses of fluids every day because water hydrates my skin and keeps it free of toxin and improves the elasticity of my skin, making it glow and flawless. I also avoid stress because it will not help me achieve a flawless skin. It can only make my skin appear dull.Getting enough sleep is next to water, probably the best thing I can do for my skin!

I love this tip.
Exfoliation is something that most people don't think is essential but it is. It could brighten up your skin instantly & the skin really feel different after the process.
Too much exfoliation is bad though so don't over exfoliate,ok?

I myself drink lots of water. I try to drink at least 12 glasses of water not just eight.
^_~

Winner 2: Thea Plete

I feel flawless after I finish my facial routine at night. You know that I love your blog coz we have the same skin problems. I dislike the heat from the sun. It makes my pores go overdrive in producing oil. At night, it feels cool and I feel flawless after I clean my face.

Congrats, sweetie!
It's hard to have oily skin,ne?
Thanks for the blog support!
*hugs*

Just wait for the email from HBC on how to claim your prizes.

Have a great week!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Blogsale updated

2011-12-18T15:18:00.000+08:00

Just to let you know that i have added some things on my blogsale.

click HERE to check it.

Happy shopping!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Peel-off polish... yay or nay?

2011-12-18T11:24:00.001+08:00

A question to my pinay readers...
are you aware that we have peel-off polish here in the philippines?
I'm sure 90% of you will say "really?"... haha!

I have actually checked Honeybee's website before because i guess as a nail art lover/polish lover the novelty of owning something unique is so great.

I'm glad i did not let my impulse take over me at that time because little did i know that it is available here!
Yes!!!!

Presenting the Allue Fairy Tale Collection!

According to HBC:

Allue is the first complete & dependable brand of affordable, high-quality products that are mildly formulated to suit the delicate neds of tweens ages 8-15, who are in the advent of many beautiful first experiences. Its products range from scents, make-up, skincare, hair & make-up accessories.

The packaging for the Allue line is so girly & cute! Perfect for tweens. I think this line is old already but people are just not aware of it.

Compare to regular polishes, the scent of this line is definitely different. It's not the 'bad' type of different,ok? It is actually a 'good' type of different. It smells nice. It's because it's not solvent-based.

See?
It doesn't have Butyl & ethyl Acetate. It also doesn't contain the 3 toxic ingredients which are DBP (dibutyl pthalate, Formaldehyde & Toulene. That's why the main marketing point of peel-off polish is that it's safe because it doesn't contain any of those ingredients.

Since it smells nice i can even apply this on an air-conditioned room without worrying about the awful smell that regular polish leaves behind! I can't apply regular polish on my room just because i hate the smell. ugh!

It can be easily peeled off...

You can easily change the color of your polish without using polish remover!
What i like about this too is that it dries fast! I like fast dry formulas because i don't have the patience to wait for my nails to dry because i'm a busy lady. This one is definitely something for ladies-on-the-go.

Now, let's go to the swatch...
I like the shade names, it's so girly too!

First is the Portia Pastel which has this glitters with milky pink base on the bottle but dries clear on the nails.

I'm sorry for my swatch because i'm not able to capture the beauty of the glitters. The glitters emit an iridescent sheen that looks really pretty! I love this shade! Highly recommended!

Then next would be the Moira Magenta which is a very cute barbie pink. I don't think it's magenta though... is it? It's a nice pastel pink with an iridescent sheen so it doesn't look flat.

How cute is that color?!
Me likey a lot!!! My second favorite!

Then Fiona Fuchsia. It looks fuchsia on the nails but not on the bottle. Maybe it looks more magenta-ish on the bottle. Anyway, magenta & fuchsia is basically almost the same,ne? The main difference is their undertone because magenta is purple while fuchsia is pink but in this case i would digress it by saying that it really looks fuchsia on the nails.

Same with Moira Magenta, it is also iridescent. I like this added iridescent on the shades because it makes them more interesting.

Then last is the Laura Lavender.
My least favorite of the bunch. I like the color, you'll even see the obvious iridescence on the bottle.
But why do i not like it? Simple...

It's streaky...
I don't like seeing those obvious streak marks from the brush as you apply. Though i have to say that it doesn't look as bad when it dries but somehow it miffed me. haha!

I think this line is really nice.
Not including the fact that it is just sold for Php 25 each (less than a dollar), it is definitely something for polish lovers to try.

Though i have a little problem with it.
I find it weird that it applies like a butter but it dries with an uneven finish if you apply it alone. It's like it is about to crack...

Applying a base coat will definitely help give it an even finish. I don't have a problem with Portia Pastel because as what i said, it dries clear so all will be left will be the glitters but i'm having that problem with Moira Magenta & Fiona Fuchsia. More so on Fiona Fuchsia. I can't seem to get it right.
*sigh*

I'm not sure if it's just me though.
So for those who have tried this line, can you tell me if you have the same problem that i encountered?

But that won't deter me from liking this collection.
Why?
Just because they are unique! They are a delight for a polish collector plus it's really cheap! It's only Php25 (less than a dollar) each!

I'll just make an update later on how it fares but im still saying that i am liking this collection!
So,what do you think?
Yay or Nay?

Hope y'all have a great Sunday!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
don't forget to join my giveaway
click HERE.

Weekend Nails:Rose Patterned nails

2011-12-15T10:26:00.001+08:00

Just a short post...

Here is the tutorial for the nail art that i had on my last post.

I have to say that it's not really that difficult to do. It will just require you a steady hand & the thinnest detailing brush that you can get your hands on.

I used acrylic as my medium in this nail art.

I used a dotting tool that has a fine tip & a sable detailing brush.

Click the pic for a larger image...

1. Add a uniformed dots as a background.
2. Do swirls to form as roses.
3. Using a C/V shape pattern, a darker shade of the same color of your swirl at the bottom to act as the sepal.
4. Add stems & leaves with your green color.
5. Put dots in the middle of the flower as the bud.
6. Finish it off with blings if you want to.

Just some notes to remember when i did this tutorial.

I just remembered to add dots on the middle of the roses right after i put on the rhinestones so you'll see how messy it looks already when i put the dots.

Also, i used white acrylic as my base color here since i just did 1 nail for the tutorial so you'll see that it cracked when i applied top coat because it was still a bit wet when i finished it.

It's better to use polish on dots because it would give you a better looking dots. since the consistency of polish is thick, it will produce a dot, as opposed to acrylic. You'll see how haphazard my dots are. Anyway, it's not like the dots are the point of this look. It just a background pattern, but if you want it to look perfect, then use polish when making dots.

I think it's better to have the stems in just 1 direction unlike how i did it the first time. Having the stem in just 1 direction will give it a better look. I just don't like to do my nails over again, but just trust me in on this. hehe

I used faux pearls as an added bling. It's ok to not apply it if you don't have it.

There ya go!
Do tell me when you have tried this nail art,ok?
I would love to see how you did it too

Simbang gabi will start tomorrow!

How fast time flies! Can you believe that Christmas is already next week?

Wow!

Hope you all are enjoying your day!

Jaa ne~!

^_^

ps:

don't forget to join my week 6 giveaway,ok?

click HERE

what have i been doing?

2011-12-13T15:04:00.006+08:00

I haven't been that active in blogging lately & let me tell you that i am really feeling guilty. I am just so thankful that you have still been checking my blog even if i don't update regularly. I'll make it up to you by letting you know about things that have been going on with me for the past couple of weeks.

I don't even know where to start...?
Uhhhhmmm... i guess i'll start with the recent update.

I haven't really done a lot of nail art post lately because i have been so busy & my nails are like the last thing that on my mind. But luckily, last weekend i was able to do a nail art (finally!) & here is my current mani.

I'll make a tutorial on this design within this week. And no, this is not a decal, i did this freehand so i'm sure you can also do this. I'll take single tutorial pictures right after this post. hehe

Then some things/thoughts that i want to share....
I have bought this finishing powder & let me tell you that i love love love this finishing powder!

I'll make a separate post about this but i love how this photographs really really well!
I'm sure you know what side has make-up on,right?

I decided to just do half of my face because i want to really see the difference. Oh, i use San San's Matte Liquid foundation underneath & i am liking it too! It almost looks natural on me,right?

This is how it looks on broad daylight.
I know that the color of my face looks different with my neck because my neck is actually darker but since this is just a test, i didn't bother applying it on my neck. i also didn't apply any concealer & i'm glad that this combo was able to hide my small imperfections quite nicely.
^_^

In depth review after a couple more weeks.

Then i finally succumb to the call of the brush guard...

I have been really curious about this one but let me tell you that i don't think that it really a must for me. It just makes drying of brushes really long! I guess that this is better for storage but not really for drying. Anyway, that's just my opinion.

Then last week, i was really surprised when the mailman dropped by in the evening to make a delivery!
It came from my very revered "ate"!

I wasn't really expecting anything & i was really shocked when the mailman dropped a big box on my arms. I haven't really got any packages from Japan yet but now i know that it would be delivered straight to my house so another door has opened for me.

Napajapan, i'm gonna be your future customer! hahaha

Anyway, i was so surprised with everything that i got!

Everything is an eye candy!
*looks straight at Kamenashi Kazuya*
OMG!
I can't believe that they are mine!
Oh, of course i shared it with my brothers but seeing everything is just so unbelievable!
I have been singing "Run for you" ever since i got this!

Since i am already talking about this, i'll go over the Nail Up! magazine.
I only have soft copies of japanese nail art magazines from nail up, nail max & nail venus so owning one is definitely exhilarating!

Here are a couple of sample shots...

Will you all just look at the details of this nail design?

She even included the top coat that i have been searching for ever since!

Arigatou, onee-sama!
It's not a mistake that i choose '-sama' as the honorific to call you because i really look up to you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
*hugs*

Since we are already on the topic of nails, i'll just tell you all that i won 7th place on our group's nail art contest. Yay! So happy!!!!
(pictures taken from my facebook account)

I also attended our anniversary party where the awarding happened. It was a very memorable day!
I love my FUN group!

Did you know that you can do very detailed nail art design using a nail art fountain pen?

I tried it & it was so easy to use! I made the rose design at left part.

Another thing that was added on my things-i-wanna-own.
My list is endless!!!
hahaha!

Last thing that i wanna share, i have been looking for a good pair of flats that would fit my big feet & i'm really glad that i was able to find one that fits my feet snugly & comfortably.

Presenting my KIMI flats!

I bought mine at the Noel Bazaar for only Php 580 (i think?) for 2 pairs! How awesome is that?!

I'm just bummed out that Kimi is not available everywhere.
*sigh*

Do you know where Kimi is available?
I would love to own a few more pairs.

Well, i think this post is already too long. hahaha!
Just to let you know that i am still alive & i always read your comments.
Thanks for the blog support, sweeties!
Make sure you join my Week 6 giveaway,ok?

Hope you all are having a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

HBC Giveaway Week 6:If you got it,flaunt it! (CLOSED)

2011-12-12T21:43:00.001+08:00

Hiya,hunnies!
The holiday season is almost here... just a couple more days. I can already feel the excitement in the air!
Have you done your shopping?

To be able to achieve a perfect look, foundation is really the key. Even if i don't really use foundation that much i know how important it is & why it is a must to have foundation on your kit.

I just said that i don't really apply foundation every time i go out but it doesn't mean i don't keep foundations on my kit. It's really a must to achieve a good flawless finish. So even if you don't have the perfect skin, you would still be able to flaunt it as long as you got the perfect shade for you.

This week's giveaway will give you a chance to be able to try out their mousse foundations. I haven't tried their mousse ones yet, but let me tell you that i like their liquid foundations. I bought 2 shades last weekend & i am liking it so far!

I'll do a review after a couple more weeks. But if i like their liquid ones, then most likely this would also be a good foundation!

Flawless skin that’s soft to the touch. A week of timeless beauty unfolds.

Cindy Crawford once said, “foundation is the most individualized makeup you wear.” Aside from foundation being your face’s BFF, it also adds color to your skin and shields it from the drying sun, wind and air conditioning.

Determine your foundation shade in natural light by sampling a swatch along your jawline. If it blends in perfectly without any strange-looking streaks, you’ve found your match. Make sure that your face and neck appear the same in color and the foundation has been well blended near the hairline and the jaw line.

Other options than liquid or powder forms? Try San San Mousse Foundation in Olive, Natural or Beige. Each pot is enriched with Vitamins A, C, and E for healthy skin and has an air whipped formula that provides long lasting color. Experience a different kind of mousse and stand up to the challenge by simply answering this week’s question:

When do you feel most flawless and why? Happy Beautiful Christmas!

Same rules apply: (numbers 5-8 are just for additional entry but it's not required)

Just answer the question that is posted. (required)
Follow my blog. (required)
You have to LIKE HBC's facebook page . Make a post about this giveaway on your facebook. Make sure you tag HBC & On Beauty Stuff & What Else's so that we can see it. (required)
Leave your complete name, email address & the link of the post that you made on the comment box (required)
Like my Facebook page (additional entry)
Tweet the giveaway (additional entry)
Blog about it (additional entry)
Add me on your blogroll (additional entry)

Win the set of products on the poster. One winner will be chosen as best answer & the other will be drawn randomly. Giveaway is open only for Philippine-based residents only.

Can't wait to read your answers!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Week 5 giveaway winners~!

2011-12-12T21:19:00.002+08:00

Without further ado, here are our week 5 winners.
^_^

Winner 1: Shaz Gepana

I believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s true to some extent since a subjective element can dictate personal preferences in beauty. But beauty is more than this. An objective element underlies beauty. It is found in balance and harmony, in proportion and symmetry. Everyone is born to be different and unique. God made us for a reason. He prescribed every single detail of our body. He custom-made our body just the way he wanted it, determined the natural talents that we would possess and the uniqueness of our personality. One person's definition of beauty is would always be different from someone else's definition. Basically saying that one person might think that a person is beautiful but another may not. Beauty does not always lie in looks for some people. Beauty should not come from outward adornment. Beauty comes from the heart. As for the beauty of a woman, it’s not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides. True beauty comes from within.

Very well said, sweetie!
I like it when you said "He custom-made our body just the way he wanted it..."
Kudos to you,hun!

I hope that all people would share the same sentiment that you have.
^_^

Winner 2: Kienes Damaso

Answer:False,Because when we say beauty, its not always the look outside but also the inside..we also use our feelings before we point out, we also use our sense of smelling, sense of hearing, Maybe we can also say that beauty is in the eye of the listener:)

Congrats to the winners!
Please wait for the email on how to claim your prizes.

Thanks for joining!
Jaa ne~!
^_~

HP Hair Color Touch-Ups Review

2011-12-08T10:14:00.000+08:00

Hi,girls!
Just a short review for today. I still have a lot of things that i need to do today...
isogashii, isogashii! (busy, busy!)

I mentioned to you all how i am sorta worrying about the white hairs peeking out. It is quite annoying when your hair is all dolled up in a chignon then those pesky strands would show up ruining your almost perfect bun. Now i don't have to fret no more about it!

HP Hair Color Touch-Ups to my rescue!

They claim that it is an "instant touch-up to cover your gray hair".
It has 3 shades available... Dark Brown, Medium Brown & Black

Description at the back...

This is how it looks like...
I have to say that i am liking the packaging. It looks so sleek & let me tell you they are not the cheap & really-light type of tubes. It has a 'solid' weight that won't just slip from your grasp.

I'm sure that you could identify what shades they are just basing on the color of the tubes.

This is the black...

Then the dark brown...

Finally the medium brown...

Now, let's about the application.
My victim was none other but my sleeping mom. haha!
She got a salt & pepper hair so who is better that her to try this out, right? Anyway, th eproduct claims that it covers gray hair instantly. So this is the before picture...

See, i told you my mom was sleeping...
Oh, but i did this with her consent. hehe

I applied the black shade first & you'll get to see how it really did covered up the gray/white hairs. Amazing!!!

This is how all 3 looked like.
Compare it with the 'before' picture, you'll see how it really covered the grays!

About the scent, it actually has a nice scent. I can't quite remember what is the scent like because i gave all 3 tubes to my mom because my grays are not really obvious to begin with. My white hairs can still be hidden when i put my hair in a bun so it's not yet a big deal for me.

It smells nice at least. It won't give you a headache when you pop open the tube, so that's a plus point.

As for removal, you can easily remove this when you shampoo your hair.
Just be a bit careful when you apply it. Make sure you wait until it "dries" before you go gallivanting & rolling in your bed with a crisp white sheet because it would look murderous! haha!

Let's summarize...
PROS:

works instantly
can really cover gray hairs
affordable
sleek packaging
smells nice
locally available
available in 3 different shades
can be easily removed by shampooing

CONS:

you have to wait a bit before it completely dries

Will i purchase it?
Nah, i said that i gave it to my mom because my hair is still dark to begin with so i see no reason for me to keep it. But i guess when the time cones that i have really obvious grays then i will not hesitate!

Have you tried any hair touch-ups?

Hope you all are having a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
Product given as sample. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Opinion shared is personal view & is no way influenced by the company. Use at your own discretion.

HBC Giveaway Week 5:Lash-ciously beautiful~ (CLOSED)

2011-12-05T10:54:00.001+08:00

Ooohhhh!!!
We are already halfway on our Happy Beautiful Christmas Campaign!
We already have 8 winners from our 4 weekly giveaways. How awesome!
On we go this week's giveaway.

I love having va-va-voom lashes!
I may not be into a full face make-up, in fact as what i said countless time i don't put foundation, but eye make-up especially full lashes is something that i won't skip. There's something sexy about having full lashes,ne?

You all know that i love fiber mascaras & false lashes. I'm all into having that fuller look!
If you are like me who love having full-looking lashes then make sure that you join this giveaway.

Beautiful eyes that steal the show. Treat your lashes to a week of TLC.

Do you know that mascaras existed way back 3,500 BC? Egyptians used bone and ivory as mascara applicators, and blended kohl with crocodile dung, water and honey to create the first mascara. They were primarily used as protection against eye ailments. Egyptians lined their eyes with kohl and used the mascara to deepen their lashes. Because eyes were believed to be the windows of the soul, they concealed them to ward off any evil spirits and bad energy. (Wikipedia)

A dab of mascara goes a long way. Whether it’s lengthening or volumizing that you’d like to achieve, choosing the right products to hype your eyelashes is essential to bringing out the star in you. If you’d like to sport a natural look, go for clear mascaras. They’re perfect for separating lashes without the risk of clumps. Colored mascaras highlight your lash features like San San Thick Lash and San San Long Lash mascaras. Before putting on your eye-opening makeup, caress your lashes with a curler. Ready to flash those tantalizing eyes? Take home the power of three by answering this week’s question:

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, true or false and why? Happy Beautiful Christmas!

Same rules apply: (numbers 5-8 are just for additional entry but it's not required)

Just answer the question that is posted. (required)
Follow my blog. (required)
You have to LIKE HBC's facebook page . Make a post about this giveaway on your facebook. Make sure you tag HBC & On Beauty Stuff & What Else's so that we can see it. (required)
Leave your complete name, email address & the link of the post that you made on the comment box (required)
Like my Facebook page (additional entry)
Tweet the giveaway (additional entry)
Blog about it (additional entry)
Add me on your blogroll (additional entry)

Win the set of products on the poster. One winner will be chosen as best answer & the other will be drawn randomly.

Here is to hoping that my voice will be back by tomorrow!
haha!

Have a great day,y'all!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Week 4 Giveaway Winners~

2011-12-05T10:36:00.001+08:00

Week 4 is done & we're on our week 5 already.
Don't you think that the time is passing by really fast?
It's just december 5 but i won't be surprised when i realized that it's already almost christmas time!

So here are the 2 lucky winners for this giveaway~

Winner 1: Joana Somejo

Who makes me blush? Well he's the coolest man I've ever met, who never fails to make me smile even when the day seems to be too far from being any good. My loving boyfriend and best friend for three years, has always been the one person that made me blush every single day.

He doesn't have to tell me cheesy lines or do anything much to make me blush. Most of the time it's when I catch him glancing at me in the middle of a busy day or when he just holds my hand without any words spoken, and it's all perfect. :)

Awww...
Most often words just ain't enough,right?

A loving relationship based on friendship is indeed very strong. I can attest to that because my bf is my friend way before we were together. hehe

Winner 2: Ivy Boto

WHO MAKES ME BLUSH?
The person who has been with me through thick and thin, with and without make-up, my bestest friend and my boyfriend. I don't have the capacity to blush at all (because I'm morena), but when I see him, he turns my inside to mush, just as he did four years ago. His little efforts to show me that he loves me and cares for me really make me feel beautiful.

I don't really blush because i already have skin redness to start with..haha.
But we don't really need to blush just to show that we are feeling 'kilig' every time we receive special treatments,right? Great answer,sweetie!

I just want to share my experience too. haha! Kala nyo kayo lang ha! (You thought it's all about you!)

I love my 'pare' too, as what i fondly call him. My BF & I have been together for more than 8yrs & he just never fails to amaze me. I'll tell you all our latest conquest. lol!

Remember when i said that i went to the Noel Bazaar? I was with my pare at that time, but actually he just said that he could come with me as i was already getting ready. He is the first person that i asked to go with me before i even started asking my friends. He said that he won't be able to come with me because he had to work on that day. I said that i'm really hesitant to go because i don't really like riding a taxi alone... blame that on all the horrendous taxi stories that i have read/heard/watched. The only way that i can go to WTC is by riding a cab.

So, he willingly talked to his employer & asked if he could have the day off. Luckily, he was allowed to go & he sent me a text message saying that he can accompany me. Yay! That doesn't count the shopping bags dangling on my arms on which he mostly bought for me. I just hoped that my mum won't read this post. haha!

8 years & counting...
Pare, tagal na nating naglolokohan (haha!) at salamat sa 8 taon na puno ng ligaya! (Pare, we have been fooling around for a long time (haha!) & i thank you for the 8 years full of happiness!)

Sorry for the messy hair & almost no make-up look. I told you all that i don't really apply any face make-up when i go out,right?

Anyway, congratulations to the winners!
Just wait for the email from HBC on how to claim your prizes.

For those who didn't win, join my Week 5 giveaway.
I'm already finishing my post about it.

Hope you all have a great start for this week!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Ever Bilena Pro Longwear Lipstick in Polish

2011-12-01T17:05:00.001+08:00

It's no secret that i'm a lipstick whore.
If there is one make-up that i can't live without it would, no doubt, be a lipstick.

There's just something about having your lips all dolled up even if the rest of your face is not yet even 'done'. I'm not a brand snob, though i admit that i do love mac lipsticks... actually, only 2 finishes from them, the amplified cremes & satins. But it doesn't mean that i do not check out other lipsticks out there because i do.

This is one lipstick that i am currently loving at the moment. I'm really glad that the color really suits me! I have to thank Maggie because i wouldn't have known that they already have pro longwear lipsticks until she made a post about it.

Let's get to know my current favorite!

You can just click that to read the description from the packaging.

I can't remember how many shades they have in the pro longwear because i can't find any info on their Facebook page. The only info i can find is about the Mutya ng Pilipinas & other pageants....

Geez! I don't have anything about posting their events but i just hope that they would at least put information about their products/collections at least.
*sigh*

The only album that they have that i think really focused on their product is the EB mousse album!
Tsk!

I remember that they have shimmery ones, this i think is the only one that has the least shimmer so i decided to get it. I'll edit this post once i go back to the mall to ask their sales ladies again.

Then this is the ingredient list....

When they said designed to be worn on it's own, i did try wearing it without any lip balms & i'm happy to report that it didn't gave me that 'numb' feeling, unlike how i felt when i first tried MAC Red. So it already made an impact from there..haha!

Well, the packaging looks nice at least & it's sturdy.
It's light but not too light that it would fly out of your hand by just merely blowing air on it.

I like that it really seals shut when i put the cap. You can hear the "click shut" noise that indicates that the cap would really stay. It would be a pain if the cap would fly out accidentally while inside your purse, drawing half the contents of your bag (& worse your purse too!) with your very own lipstick.

I got the shade in Polish & this is how it looks like in the tube.

Looks gorgeous,huh?!

Here is how it looks like when swatched....

Maybe you'll asked me what is the one on top. It's the same swatch that i applied 24 hours before the newly swatched one (which is the one at the bottom, of course!).

My thoughts on Pro Longwear...

I think it just depends on what activities you really do before you could say that a certain lip product is long lasting. I mean, if you keep on eating & licking your lips, then there's no way that a lipstick could last on you even for 2 hours. If you don't do a lot of 'lip action' then it would last long on you. That's it.

There are some tricks that you can do to make a lipstick last so if you will be able to really take your time in applying your lipstick, i think anything could last (except sheer & glossy finishes) for a while. Drier lipsticks would tend to last longer than creamier/wet ones so i can understand why the consistency of this lipstick is somewhat thin.

But you will just ask me if this lasts longer than others, yes, it does.
Why?
One thing, it's really pigmented.

The swatched that i did was just swiped once. See how gorgeous it already looks like with just one swatch, to think that this is not really a frost finish but i like how "buildable" the color is. The more you pack it in, the more likely it will stay on your lips.

It has shimmers but not too shimmery, at least it doesn't really feel too chunky on the lips though which is good. I guess im just used to Mac lipsticks because mac has that creamy-feel to it every time i use it, which i like because it feels like it's locking in the moisture on my lips. While this one, is not really waxy but it just feels flat on my lips. But it doesn't look flat, ok? The hint of shimmers that it has gives the lips a dimension.

Forgive me, ladies, i just can't quite describe the texture. It's a bit thin & waxy but not the bad type of waxy feeling, because if this is waxy there's no way i would be using this no matter how beautiful the color is.

Anyway, that is when worn alone. But i guess that you will not really wear this alone,ne?
It's still preferable to prep your lips by moisturizing it before hand. Apply lip balms before anything else.

That's the only 'con' for me, but, again, i can easily solve it by just simply applying a lip balm before application.

I love how this color lights up my face without even putting any foundation on. I just have to fix my brows & im ready to go!

Let's summarize it
PROS:

locally available
very affordable - Php 155 each
different shades to choose from
very pigmented
nice packaging - looks very professional

CONS:

feels waxy when worn alone
not available internationally

Will i buy it?
Yes, of course!
Im not a fan of shimmers so if they have shades that are not too shimmery, i will definitely buy it!
^_^

So, have you tried the Pro Longwear line of Ever Bilena?

Hope you all are enjoying your thursday!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

New Product: Miss Kat Soap

2011-11-30T11:39:00.003+08:00

I have received an invite to get to know a new product which is Miss Kat Soap. Since you all know that i'm a soap fan, there's no way that i would be missing on this.

I prefer to really feature brands that are just starting or just simply isn't known that much all because i think they have a lot to offer that people are just not aware of. So, last Saturday, i went to the Noel Bazaar at World Trade Center to visit them & look at how cute their stall is!

Look at all the goodies they have in their bucket!

Everything smells so good!

Let's get to know everything one by one.
The AM & PM soap... i have to admit that i'm drawn to their packaging! How cute is that?!
2 soaps in one gorgeous packaging. I like the idea that this soap has different benefits that is perfect for a specific time.

The AM & PM Soaps...

Ingredients:
Glycerin soap base, BHA, kojic, papaya, orange oil, lux fragrance oil, black beads

Whoa! It contains BHA, papaya & kojic!
3 known ingredients that are known for fighting acne.. BHA for those who are not aware is Beta Hydroxy Acid which is commonly known as salicylic acid. Did i get that right? I think that's what i rememer on my research when i made a post about aspirin mask.

Y'all know that i can't handle pure kojic acid on my skin. I tried this & i was actually half-expecting that i would experience that familiar but-oh-so-painful tingling that i always feel when i use kojic soaps, but wonder of wonders! i didn't feel any tingling at all!
Very promising!

I'll start using this tomorrow (start of December) so that i know when & what are the effects of it for a specific time. It smells sweet, btw.

Candy sweet actually for the AM Soap! Makes you think of a newly bathed & powdered baby who is chomping on a big,fat lollipop (haha!sorry, my mind is not working yet because i still have a nasty cold). It smells nice.

Sweet Powdery scent for the PM soap. If the AM soap would have a happy baby with a lolly, pm soap would just have a newly bathed & powdered baby who is already in his crib, with his baby bottle about to sleep (what a description!haha!). It smells nice too!

These soaps passed my scent test!

They have other variants as well...

The Moroccan Argan Oil & Egyptian 24k Gold Soaps!

Unfortunately, i haven't tried any of these 2 yet. I have a sample but i won't try all of them because i don't want my skin to go berserk just because of all the new things that i'm trying.hehe

As soon as im done with the AM & PM Soap i'll give these 2 a shot.
If you are a fan of Argan oil, then you shouldn't miss this. You know how expensive argan oil is,ne?
So this is definitely something worth checking out!

They also have the 3 in 1 soap....

A soap that
1. cleanses impurities
2. tones pores
3. moisturizes the skin

How awesome is this?!
I have just tried this & i like how soft it leaves my skin but i don't think i'll be trying this again because i'm scared of any soaps that moisturizes. I already have an oily skin to start with & i don't need any kind of unnecessary moisture anymore. I know all about the logic of using moisturizers for oily skin, but please spare me the sermon. I have suffered a lot on my skin & i know what works & doesn't work on me.

But i really like how soft my skin is afterward. If you have a normal or dry skin, then i would highly suggest that you try this one.

With that said, i'll be trying out the AM & PM Soap this december & i'll let you know if it works after a month or two,ok?

If you wanna know more about their soaps, you can just follow them on their Facebook page.

Thanks to Nelly for answering all my queries when i dropped by at their stall!
Thanks,sis!
You're such a sweetie!
^_^

Hope you all are having a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

giveaway winners

2011-11-29T23:14:00.000+08:00

Sorry im a bit late in announcing the winners. I'm still not feeling well. This is the aftermath of having too much fun this weekend!

Anyway, these are the winners...

Winner 1: Mary Jay Javier

Here's my secret: First Expoliate with sugar. This will not only soften your lips, but it'll also clean them and leave a lingering sweetness behind.Second,Polish your lips. Apply a lip balm or petroleum jelly immediately after exfoliating.And most importantly Smile seductively. A big, genuine smile is attractive, but you don't smile like that all the time.Curling the corners of your lips upwards can capture the essence of a smile while still showing off your kissable lips.

I agree!
There is something about having that lilt in your lips when you smile. It makes the person not only look sexy but also feel sexy!
Way to go,sweetie!

Winner 2: Ricalyn Sicad

My secret to kissable lips is the Maybelline lipgloss ( Treat Me Sweet - Baby Pink with silver shimmer).It gives my lips the glossy shine that lasts through the day and it keeps my lips really soft.It has no color but i love the fact that it shows the natural color of my lips and it smells very good:)

Congrats to the winners!
Please wait for the confirmation email on how to claim your prizes.
^_^

My Week 4 giveaway is now on, please take a look HERE

Have a great day,hunnies!
Jaa ne~!

HBC Giveaway Week 4: Make me blush~ (CLOSED)

2011-11-28T18:49:00.001+08:00

Another quick post...

I'm not feeling well. I've too much on my plate this week & i guess it took a toll on me. Yesterday was one of the best day ever because i met up once again with my nail buddies. A day full of laughter (literally! because i am suffering the hangover of too much laughing, if there such a thing..lol!) is definitely something worth reminiscing.

Anyway, this is for my week 4 giveaway.

Same rules apply: (numbers 5-8 are just for additional entry but it's not required)

Just answer the question that is posted. (required)
Follow my blog. (required)
You have to LIKE HBC's facebook page . Make a post about this giveaway on your facebook. Make sure you tag HBC & On Beauty Stuff & What Else's so that we can see it. (required)
Leave your complete name, email address & the link of the post that you made on the comment box (required)
Like my Facebook page (additional entry)
Tweet the giveaway (additional entry)
Blog about it (additional entry)
Add me on your blogroll (additional entry)

Win the set of blush on the poster. One winner will be chosen as best answer & the other will be drawn randomly.

Color me mine. Rosy blushes that define a natural looking flush. A week of beautiful smiles await you.

A few swirls of blusher livens up pale cheeks. It also helps shape your face. Your blusher shade should mimic the natural color of your cheeks. Smile and apply blush on the fleshy part that pops up and you’re good to go.

Not sure which blush to wear? Fair skin goes well with rose blushers while apricot or bronzers are a sure hit for dark skin. Powder blushers are usually best for oily and combination skin which makes San San Cheek Blushers handy with four great shades that are waiting to uncover the real beauty in you. All you have to do is answer this week’s question:

Who makes you blush? (Post a photo of this person and your short “blush” story). Happy Beautiful Christmas!

Will announce the winners of my week 3 giveaway tomorrow.

Hope y'all have a great week!

Jaa ne~!
^_^

Updates + my radio guesting~!

2011-11-25T00:24:00.001+08:00

This week has been pretty hectic but fun for me.
Let's start first with the news that i said that i would be telling you all about.
Of course, best news first..hehe

Since i have received tons of comments & inquiries about the products that i have used & reviewed, i decided to let my readers tell their experience on their own. I think that it would be nice if people could also read other people's opinion aside from mine.

Each of us have different reactions to different products. I'm telling my experience but it doesn't mean that it would be the same with you. So i figured that this would be a great chance for a reader interaction.

This is also a chance for people who have thought about blogging but is still undecided. As a guest blogger, you will have the power to decide what you will be writing about. I would just want you to have pictures to support your post.

If you are interested feel free to email me.
Don't worry, i don't bite so you don't need to be shy,ok?

Then another news for you, i joined a nail art contest in our Facebook group.
*sigh*
Good news, i was able to submit an entry!
Bad news, it wasn't the one that i really spent time making
TT_TT

Don't ask me what happened because i'm still annoyed about it. I'm just thankful that i was able to at least finish an entry hours before the courier arrived at our house.

This is my entry...

If you want to take a look at the other entries you can hop over to Thrizsha's blog HERE. I highly suggest that you really visit her blog because the entries are amazing!!!

I'm in awe of these ladies!
To come up with an entry like those.
Feel like mine was just something that i picked up in a dump site..ahaha!
But i'm really proud that i was able to finish that with just merely hours before the deadline & a lot more proud that i'm a member of this amazing group of talented nail artists!
Great job,girls!

Then last but not the least...
I was invited to be a guest on a radio show yesterday at a local AM station. It was definitely a first & it was really fun! Ms. Lorie, HBC's marketing communications manager, asked me 2 weeks ago if i would be willing to do a radio guesting & i readily said YES!

I was thinking that i would be a nervous wreck but luckily, everyone was so friendly that my initial nervousness just went poof! The topic was about nail art.. one of my favorite topic ever! haha!

I thank all my readers who supported me & also my FAB group!
They were so giddy with it... Love you all, ladies!
Thank you for all the things that i have learned from the group!

l to r: Friendly Nicki, Maren Jenny, HBC comm. manager, Ms Lorie, Allue manager, Ms MJ & yours truly

Haha!
Love this photo

Thanks for the chance, Ms Lorie! It was definitely a very memorable experience!
I also want to thank ms MJ & Ms Jenny who were really friendly. Thank you!
^_^

That pretty much took the first half of my week.
It's not yet over & this weekend im looking forward to other activities as well...

Again, feel free to email me if you want to be a guest blogger,ok?
Hope you all will have a great day/evening!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
Don't forget to join my Week 3 giveaway,ok?
click HERE

Week 2 Giveaway Winners~

2011-11-22T02:09:00.000+08:00

Just a quick post...im not at my pc. It crashed... what the eff?!

Here are the winners...
Best Answer - winner 1: Charlene Bianes
I would dye my hair purple with gray and black layers and streaks all over. I think it'd really be cool hair color and hair style. It could even be a statement since purple is said to signify and induce peace of mind. And if it's true, I'll surely savor that peace of mind whenever I look in the mirror with that wonderful hair color. And oh, did I mention that it's one of my favorite colors? ;)

Purple with gray & black...wow!
you would really have a very unique hair then...definitely one of a kind!
^_^

Randomly drawn - winner 2: Gessa Marie Condino
I would dye my hair with slight dark brown because this can help me get attractive from my friends. :)

It's safe to stick with browns,right?
^_~

Congrats,ladies!
Just wait for the email of HBC on how to claim your prizes.
I personally love the Color Hair Spa, i hope that you would like it too.

If you didn't win,make sure that you join week 3.
Click HERE to join.

Jaa ne~!
^_^

HBC Giveaway Week 3:Read my lips~ (CLOSED)

2011-11-21T17:47:00.002+08:00

I adore lipsticks!
Why? I think a girl can go from drab to fab with just a simple swipe of bright lipstick. For those who have seen me, you will notice that i don't usually have a lot of make-up on. I mostly just play with my brows, lips & lashes. That's it! I also don't apply foundation...seriously!

Lipsticks transform my plain-looking face to something presentable. hehe... That's why you wouldn't catch me without any tube of lipstick on my bag.

With that said, this week's giveaway will be all about lips!

Flash a pout, day in and day out. Healthy colors for a week of kissable lips.

Create a full on pout or add just a sheer shine to your lips, through different lip colors that make you stand out from the crowd. But remember, hydration is key to beautiful lips that’s why every swipe of San San Hydrating Color Dew lipstick contains moisture retain ingredients such as Lanolin Oil that seals the lips and prevents it from chapping. Its waxy texture allows for easy application and even coverage.

Aside from moisture retain, San San Hydrating Color Dew lipsticks contain Vitamins A, C, E for healthy lips and SPF 15 for sun protection. Get a chance to grab three tubes when you answer this week’s question:

What’s your secret to kissable lips? Happy Beautiful Christmas!

If you will be asking me, what's mine?

I highlight the top of my lips!

Click HERE to check out my post about how i put my red lipstick on.

Same rules applies: (numbers 5-8 are just for additional entry but it's not required)

Just answer the question that is posted. (required)
Follow my blog. (required)
You have to LIKE HBC's facebook page . Make a post about this giveaway on your facebook. Make sure you tag HBC & On Beauty Stuff & What Else's so that we can see it. (required)
Leave your complete name, email address & the link of the post that you made on the comment box (required)
Like my Facebook page (additional entry)
Tweet the giveaway (additional entry)
Blog about it (additional entry)
Add me on your blogroll (additional entry)

Win the set of lipstick on the poster. One winner will be chosen as best answer & the other will be drawn randomly.

That is also how i will be choosing the winner for week 2 contest.

Will announce the winner later on.

Tell us how you achieve a truly kissable lips

^_~

Good luck,ladies!

Have a great week!

Jaa ne~!

Etude House Bubble Hair Coloring Review

2011-11-21T00:04:00.007+08:00

I said before that i have jet-black hair & ordinary DIY hair colors just doesn't work on me. I find it really troublesome because now i have some white hairs already & of course i want to hide them. I'm not ashamed to say that i am already 27 but i don't want to be walking on the street with people knowing my age juset because of my hair.

I know that i can easily just go to the salon to remedy that & have my hair colored... but as what you already know i am the type who prefers to do things on her own as much as possible. Remember my bout with acne? I can easily just go to the dermatologist but i chose not to... heck, you like my blog just because of my adventures & misadventures,right?
haha~!

Let's categorize this recent hair coloring incident to my list of misadventure.

I had read raves after raves of this product so i became really curious. I was thinking that this would really work on me because it's like 90% of the blog reviews that i read is saying how awesome this is... but you know that everyone has different reaction to different products. This is not an exception... Kix Kikay said that it didn't work on her so that just added a little disappointment on my part.... just a little though because i still bought one...

Actually i didn't bought it... my 'pare' bought it for me when we dropped by at Etude House before. The shade that i got is Wine Red because i have been telling him over & over that i wanted to be a red head. I haven't tried bleaching my black hair yet so coloring it is pretty tricky. The color just doesn't show at all. So somehow i don't blame why this didn't work on me...
*sigh*

These are the contents upon opening...

1 is the coloring solution. There is already a solution inside the bottle.

Just pour the coloring solution to the bottle & tilt the bottle a couple of times to mix it.

This is how my hair looked like before...

Told you that i have jet black hair...

Now, before you start coloring your hair make sure you apply cold cream on the area around your hair so if ever you get the color on it, you can easily remove it & it won't stain. Sorry for the red cheeks.. ugghhhh... i hate it when my skin gets red like that..it's so uneven. It's not the healthy kind of blush,mind you.. *sigh*

It also includes a plastic wrap, together with the plastic gloves, to protect you from any mishap...

This is how the it looks like when you pump it out of the bottle... a purple foam!

Apply it on your hair... starting from the roots to the tips. It was hard to apply it since my hair is long & i have to take pictures to start with but i suggest that you flip your hair downwards. With your bowed head, it would be easier for those that got long hair like mine to apply the foam.

Use all of it!
the solution would be useless after a couple of hours so apply it liberally!
Make sure you cover all the hair that doesn't have any foam at all... Then pile it on top of your head like so...

& wait for 20-45 minutes depending on your hair. I waited for 45 minutes.

Now, one thing why i don't like hair coloring is the scent. When i read reviews of this, it only mentioned how 'awesome' the after was & i can't remember if i remember reading something about it, but let me tell you, it has that odor of ammonia!

Disgusting!
I can't handle strong odors & this one smells disgusting. What makes it worse was it was really hot the time that i colored my hair & it makes the odor unbearable!

Ugghhh!!! I shudder just remembering the scent!
I think i was pinching my my nose half the time that i had it on.. Can you imagine it?! 45 minutes of having an odor of ammonia on top of your head... not good!

I could bear it if the after result is amazing, but no!
I was so disappointed with the after result! Why?
Take a look...

The only difference from the before pic is that the after pic's hair is wet!
Tsk!

By the way, after rinsing the foam out of your hair, you have to use the silky perfume hair treatment. It would restore your hair. It smells good, but it wasn't able to get rid of the ammonia. Before you go telling me that maybe i didn't shampoo enough to completely remove it, I DID!

I even shampooed thrice!
I didn't care if my hair will dry out, the need to remove the ammonia scent is a matter of life & death for me because i can't really stand it. Unfortunately, 2 shampooing, 1 conditioning, another shampoo & finally the hair treatment after... i can still smell the ammonia!

God save me from the odor of ammonia!
@_@

When i said that my olfactory sense is sensitive it IS really sensitive! I can still smell the ammonia even after 2 days! For those who have tried this & wasn't bothered by the scent, my hats off to you! You can just imagine how sensitive i am, huh?
Tsk!

I wouldn't mind the scent at all if it would give me at least half of the color on the packaging, but of course it didn't.
Well, at least i see a hint of red on my hair when im under the piercing rays of the sun...

See the reddish hint?
Where?... uhhh...look closely!

Another thing... it didn't even cover my grays!
What the eff?!
See that single white strand of hair at the top? It didn't even turn that single white hair to orange-ish. This sucks! I can tolerate the scent if it could at least cover my white hair, but it didn't!

What a total waste of money!
Good thing i didn't bought it! haha!

Anyway, i said that i have a really dark hair to start with so i guess it's understandable why this one just didn't do a fig on me... but i'm still ticked off that it didn't even colored my white hair.
*sigh*

Is it just me?!
Why is it that i feel like im the only one that products doesn't seem to be working on?! Majority would be amazed by this product but i guess i just belong in the minority.
:(

Anyway, i'm not saying that this is not good because in a way it is.
Let me enumerate the pros for you
PROS:

a fun way to color your hair (hey,who doesn't love bubbles?)
locally available
not that expensive (Php 375, i think)
different shades available
complete kit

CONS:

the scent is DISTURBING!
didn't color my hair
didn't cover my grays

I am seriously thinking of pros to make up for the cons in this review but for some reason i just can't! Just search other people's review...i'm sure you'll find lots of pros..haha

Sorry if this post seems like a disappointment from all the positive things that you read about it. Let's just say i'm evening the reviews. hehe!

Will i buy it?!
No freakin' way!
Again, I could put up with the scent if it could cover my white hairs but it didn't!

I guess this time, i'll go to the salon to have my hair professionally colored,huh?
But as a blogger, the need for finding a product that would work is overwhelming! hahaha!

I'll choose the HBC Color Hair Spa over this!
Speaking of which, have you joined that giveaway? You still got a couple of hours before the giveaway ends so make sure you get your entries in,ok? Click HERE to join.

I'll be making an update post once my schedule has gotten a bit lighter. I just have a very hectic schedule now so i don't the time to spare for blogging but i have news for everyone! Want a clue?
Nah!
Just wait until my update post,ok?

Hope you all will have a great week,ladies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Week 1 Giveaway Winners~

2011-11-16T23:57:00.001+08:00

Thanks to everyone who joined the week 1 giveaway. If you missed week 1, you can still join the ongoing week 2 giveaway.

Here are the winning answers:

Winner 1:

great looking hair for me is a frizz free and manageable hair, it must also be strong yet soft and shiny.
My most unforgettable hair nightmare was just a couple of year ago, when i had to attend a wedding of my bf's sister. My improvise overnight curler didn't work so well on my hair overnight leaving it with unruly curls all over, to add to my misfortune, i didn't have time to go to the nearest salon and have it styled.
So, to make the best out of it, while we're on our way to the church, (good thing it was traffic) I spent the whole time fixing my hair by using only a facial moisturizer as an improvise hair cream, a rubber bands (praying it won't break) and bobby pins (good thing i always have these on my purse) viola! the result, a messy sexy updo hollywood style :) and ready to party.

My mom actually told me before that even body lotions can be used for hair. I haven't really tried it yet but clearly, our winner, Roan Danica Manuel, just put it into a testimony that even stuff that are addressed for our body could even be used to a different part, in this case, her hair.

That is just ingenious, don't you think so?

Winner 2:

Great looking hair is one that is soft, bouncy and natural. Overworked hair, for me, doesn't do it. It does not matter what hair type you have as long as it is clean, soft and free of dry and split ends.
My unforgettable hair nightmare: we've all had the misfortune of running late and not being able to completely dry our hair. I am no exception. When this happens, my hair looks frizzy and poofy.
How I made the best out of it: Aside from my mom telling me that leaving the house with wet hair is unacceptable, it also leaves my hair looking like a tousled mess. In situations like these, I like to loose-braid my hair sideways. This makes for a stylish do and saves you from having a horrible hair day.

I can never leave the house without my hair wet. I don't know but i sweat more when i leave the house with my hair all dry & nice. It's like i find it cooler when it's wet. Just like what Kate Vergara said, it would result to it being frizzy & unmanageable. I'm guilty! My hair is always frizzy! haha

I also put my hair in a fishtail braid just so my hair won't be flying all around especially if i am in a jeepney. Yes, ladies, i do ride jeepneys! In fact, i love commuting! Seriously! I don't know how to drive, i guess one reason why i'm not really interested in learning how to drive is the fact that i commuting is enjoyable for me even with the traffic jam & jam packed trains!hahaha

Anyway, i think braid is a classic do that will never go out of style! Sleeping with your hair braided will give you a sassy-looking curls once you've removed it the next day.

Congratulations to Roan Danica & Kate!
HBC will be contacting you most probably at the end of this week.
^_^

Hope you all are having a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_~

Landbis Quick Eyeliner Review

2011-11-16T11:57:00.001+08:00

Eyelining is step that most girls do not skip. It makes a big difference when you line your eyes. It could change your eye shape! That's why looking for a good eyeliner is quite tricky. I'll be reviewing the eyeliner that i got from KKCenterhk.com.

I've had this eyeliner for a few months already & i have fully tested it & i guess it's an ok product.

Let me give you a swatch first...

I lightly swatched this just once & you'll see how pigmented this is. It's great for dark smokey looks because this one is soft & you can easily smudge it unlike other liners that takes forever in smudging. This one is pliable & you can easily smoke it out by just running a q-tip or angled brush over it for a few times.

Now, i'll point out the things that i like about this....

First, it's an automatic liner which is quite handy because you won't need to sharpen it every other then especially when you're in a hurry.

Admit it, girls, how many times have you've promised yourself that you would sharpen your favorite liner after every use but haven't done so? I used to love my Lancome Crayon Kohl but i always tend to forget sharpening it up until i just lost it! hahaha! So this is a good thing that you would just have to twist it.

Though i have to say, one thing that i like about pencil liner is how hygienic it is. I mean you can easily disinfect pencil liners by dipping it in an alcohol,. let it dry then sharpen it & you got yourself a new, clean, eyeliner once more.

Second, i said before that it's very easy to work with this because it is soft. You can achieve a beautiful smokey liner with just a few strokes. It's very "workable" that it's almost like a kohl.. minus the goopiness...hehe

Kohl liners are amazing but often times they are just too soft so it's hard to apply them. This liner is amazing in that sense. It's firm enough to let you draw a liner yet still soft to allow you to smudge them without rubbing on your lashline heavily.

I'm not a fan of smokey lining so i just applied it as it is here. I carefully worked with it making sure that i do not apply too much pressure just because i have this feeling that the more pressure i apply on my lashline, the more my lashes fall... not good because i have sparse lashes to start with!

One thing that i just don't like about this is that this is not waterproof.
My main requirement for eyeliner is that it ought to be waterproof. What with me being sweaty & oily, only waterproof stuff works! I tried tightlining with this & after an hour, raccoon-eyes alert! eeekkkk!!!!

I guess i can use this really as an eyeliner not something to tightline with but i prefer my liners to be of multi-use. *sigh*
I guess it's hard to look for a liner that could keep up with my preferences,huh?

This could be liked by individuals who doesn't have oily lids to start with & has deep set eyes. Why only those with deep-set eyes? I have a semi-monolid eyes & everytime i blink, the pigment would transfer from my lashline to my lids... Can you just imagine how messy & awful that looks on me?

But i still use this when i would just have to do a quick errand & i don't have the luxury of time to wait for my liquid liner to dry.

As for the price, i'll leave it to you.
I think the price is not bad because this liner is really pigmented. It is sold for $9.51 at KKCenterhk.com. You can check it out HERE.

PROS:

pigmented
soft & easy to work with
perfect for dark smokey eyelining
no need to sharpen
cute packaging (black with pink dots...how cute is that?)

CONS:

not waterproof
not transfer-resistant
have to use an oil-based remover to get rid of the traces left
only available online

Will i buy it?

If they will have a waterproof version, i would gladly do so.

What is your favorite eyeliner?

Please share!

Hope you all are having a great day!

Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
Product sent as sample. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Opinion shared is personal view & is no way influenced by the company. Use at your own discretion.

HBC Giveaway Week 2:Color my World (CLOSED)

2011-11-15T00:33:00.003+08:00

Today is the last day for my Week 1 giveaway so make sure you post it before the day ends,ok? I have already a couple of tags on my FB page, but not the comments. I would only be counting your entries in if you will be commenting on my post,ok?

Have i mentioned that i colored my hair just recently?
Unfortunately, my hair is jet black & ordinary, ready-to-use hair color just doesn't work. I would have to bleach my hair just so the true color would show up. I won't mention the name of the one that i used but i sure wished that i just didn't bought it & used this color hair spa instead.

I'm not just saying this because HBC is sponsoring this giveaway but i seriously love this product line! I have bought a tub of this before & it really covered my gray without the smell of ammonia! I said countless of times that i have a sensitive sense of smell & one reason why i don't like coloring my hair is because i can't abide the smell of ammonia. It makes me nauseous & i mostly end up having a sore throat because of how bad it smells.

I'll make a post about this color hair spa some day but i am already telling you now that YOU have to join this giveaway because it is that good! If i can only join this giveaway i will because i love this line so much!

Same rules applies: (numbers 5-8 are just for additional entry but it's not required)

Just answer the question that is posted. (required)
Follow of my blog. (required)
You have to LIKE HBC's facebook page . Make a post about this giveaway on your facebook. Make sure you tag HBC & On Beauty Stuff & What Else's so that we can see it. (required)
Leave your complete name, email address & the link of the post that you made on the comment box (required)
Like my Facebook page (additional entry)
Tweeted the giveaway (additional entry)
Blogged about it (additional entry)
Added me on your blogroll (additional entry)

An example entry would be:
1. I would dye my hair... because...
2. I'm a follower of your blog - my GFC name is thiamere
3. I liked HBC's fb page - my name is thiamere
4. name: Thiamere
email address: thiamere@kuririnmail.com
posted it here: (fb link)
5. I liked your Fb page - my name is thiamere
6. I tweeted it here: (tweet link)
7. I blogged it here: (blog link)
8. I added your blogroll here: (your blog page)

fyi:
if you don't know how to get the fb link that you posted just click the time lapse that you see right next to the like/comment button.

On to our week 2 question...

Healthy, flowing locks with a subtle touch of color. A week of great hair starts right here.

Oprah Winfrey said, “the right hair color can transform your looks - enliven your skin tone, cover grays, and add sparkle to your eyes.” But for those who don’t have the luxury of time to visit the salon to have this done, a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) treatment is a sure hit.

Not ready to take the full color plunge? Ease into the perfect hue with HP (Hair+ Perfection) Color HairSpa. Combining the benefits of cellophane and hairspa treatment in one, the HP Colour HairSpa leaves a reflect of color and helps repair dull and damaged hair, recharging it with new strength and elasticity. Take home these tubs by answering this week’s question:

If you were to dye your hair with an outrageous color (e.g. violet, blue, pink, etc.), what will it be and why? Happy Beautiful Christmas!

If you have always wanted to color your hair but is hesitant about the end result this is the perfect product. It washes off after tons of washing (tons...not just a couple!) but won't dry your hair unlike the usual hair color.

How awesome is that?!
Coloring your hair at the same time repairing your damaged hair...
It can't get any better than that,right!?
Crazy!
hahaha!

Since we are already talking about HBC, i would also like to share this news to you.

Shop-a-gift means you can get 3 featured products in the SALE boxes for only P250.

Aside from this, you would also get a FREE Happy Beautiful Christmas bag when your purchase reaches P250. Items included in the SALE are galenicals, soaps, hair coloring and hair styling products, facial cleansers, scents and makeup.

I have to visit HBC na asap!

Can't wait to read about your contest entries,ladies!

By the way, i picked the hair color auburn but it doesn't even show! I'm seriously contemplating bleaching but i'm still hesitant...hmmmm....

Do yourself a favor & join this giveaway because i am telling you that this product line is amazing!

Hope you all will have a great day!

Jaa ne~!
^_~

rants & ramblings: on blogging perks & what else's~

2011-11-14T01:57:00.008+08:00

I'll just be shaking the dust for a bit around here. I'm not sure what would be the reaction of people who will read this post but i feel like this is something that has been considered as a taboo, so i would just like to make a post on it. This will be a long & boring rambling so feel free to skip if you don't want to read any dramatics.

A dear friend recently asked me if i get to attend product launches & event invites from different brands. I said "yes, i do receive invites". She then said, "do you attend every invites?"

A reader once asked me if i get to receive free products from different companies because im a blogger. I said "yes, i do receive products". He then asked, "is that why you mostly do positive reviews?"

A reader emailed me if companies sponsor me when i host some of my giveaways. I said "yes, they do sponsor some of it". She then asked me, "do they pay you when they ask you to do that?"

I answered "yes" to everything just because they are all true. Yes, there are perks in beauty blogging BUT, & that is one big but, you have to bear in mind that you have to be responsible with whatever you post on the internet.

Being a beauty blogger, is not just simply having an online diary where you can write everything no matter how bad it is & not expect it to get out. If your main goal is to just keep tabs on every product that you use without backfiring then just keep it private where no one can read it except you. Once you open your blog to the public, you have to also bear in mind that people will read it & there's no telling how they will react to what you stated.

Some people will say that i am a successful blogger. I am surprised that people will actually think that i am successful. I guess if i try to look at it in a bigger perspective, not the usual "post-then-comment" routine, then i will say that i have come a long way. I don't measure it by the number of followers on my GFC (google friend connect), or number of comments on my post, or maybe the ranking of my page. I based it on the response of my readers.

I really really take pride in each of my posts, especially for product reviews. I make sure that i have tried & tested the products that i review. I feel somewhat responsible for everything that i write & i can't just say that one thing is crappy unless i have personally tried it & it just ended up making me bald or warty.

I have to admit that at first, i just write what i feel like writing, not even caring what people who are reading it will feel. My usual "this is my page, if you don't like what you read then just get the heck out!" attitude has long since disappear when i started receiving comments of how helpful they find my blog.

I seriously got a bit scared & hesitant because it means that somehow people consider my ramblings as something useful. The "what if i messed up & it backfired?" thinking has got me really pondering on every word that i write. It made me feel very responsible about the posts that i made so from then on i made a promise to not post something that i can't support with hard facts & proofs. But i really do love what i do, i just became a bit mature.

If i will try to base it on this logic, i guess i could say that i am successful. I have realized that you have to be responsible with whatever you do & "graduating" from an irresponsible blogger to a responsible blogger is a success in my book.

I consider myself successful too because i receive lots of encouraging comments. Keeping a blog is not easy. It's time consuming, costs a lot of money, have to put in a lot of effort & be passionate about it. I treasure every comments that i get, they are like my fuel. I have thought countless of times about quitting but as long as there is a single person who thinks that my blog is something worth reading, then i will go on.

But if you will be basing it on numbers & statistics, im not a "successful blogger". I'm way way out of being successful. But i am already very happy with the current status of my blog. I started my blog as just a blog... my very own space in the cyber world where i could blab about stuff. That's it, short & simple.

Now, going back to the question that my friend had asked me... "do you attend every invites?"
The answer is "No, i don't". Surprise?
Nah, this is not really surprising. My close friends knew that im not the type of person who goes out a lot. In fact, im an introvert, what can i say? I prefer burying my nose in a book rather than go clubbing with friends. I prefer watching dramas than go on night-outs. I'm really boring like that, so it's no surprise why i don't attend invites as much as i can.

But that doesn't say that i snub invitations that i receive. I'm really happy every time i receive one. It makes me feel special! It makes me think that i am special enough to be thought of someone who is worthy to attend something like that. I do try to attend invites but unfortunately, i have different activities as well that i can't set aside just because of it like work, personal & social activities as well.

Actually, when i started blogging i was just really set on making an online journal. That's it! I didn't really expect that someone would actually read the blurbs that i have here, how much more to be given an invite to product launches?!

On to the next reader question... "is that why you mostly do positive reviews?"
The answer is "I prefer to post positive reviews because it makes it easier for me to really remember what products work best & why it is worth blogging about." That's it!

For purely selfish reason, i prefer to really blog about things that could benefit my readers. Something that will make them think "ah! this product is worth checking out.", not something that will make them think "ah! this product is crappy, what a waste of money.". Although i know that i can't help that i have an uber sensitive body which makes my standard a lot more strict than other people. It doesn't mean that if i make a "neutral" post that it is not good.

In fact, one of my 'neutral' post is the highest viewed page on my blog, the "kojie-san soap". I posted it because it is something that i think readers could benefit from even if it didn't work for me. I give out the pros & cons of each product so that you can decide for yourself. I am just one user, you just can't take my word.

I guess this is why i didn't really put any disclaimer on every post because i am different. What works for me, might not work for you & vice versa. Of course, i welcome suggestions! I love it when people suggest that i try something new. I'm quite adventurous, as im sure most of you already know.

So, going back, i really try to do positive reviews & mostly i lean on pointing out the positives because i want people to know the details about the product & not just what i think.

Then last but not the least... "do they pay you when they ask you to do that?"
The answer is "I sure wish! haha! But i don't receive any monetary consideration."
I said that beauty blogging is expensive because you will be tempted (believe me, the temptation is really great! so bad you can taste it!) to buy things just because you want to blog it.

I think this is something that every bloggers feel. So don't be surprised when you read haul posts here & there. It's not about bragging, it's about having something that you can blog about in the future. I said before that my haul posts had saved me countless of times about product expiration.

Do i earn from blogging?
Yes, from advertisements but it's really small.

Unless, you help me out & click every advertisements that you see on my blog..hehe. I try to keep the advertisements of my blog at minimum, something that will not bother my readers because i am a reader too. I hate it when i go to a blog & see tons of advertisements. It annoys the heck out of me that i mostly end up closing it. I understand why bloggers do it but i can't help being annoyed.

If you will ask me how much, i'll give you an estimation... for the whole 3 years of blogging, i have earned just a little more than Php 4,000 (less than $100). I know that if i really wanted to i can monetize my blog but i feel that if i do that the credibility that i built will just not be the same.

I can simply say that my blog will stay like how it was but since i myself have this idea that once a blog changed from a "personal" to "commercial" looking, the content is just not the same. So since i am my first reader, why would i do something that i won't even do. Makes sense,ne?

Going a little out of the way... one thing that i would like to add is about 'hate' comments.
I would be a hypocrite if i will say that i am not bothered by it.
Of course, i am! I human after all.

But at the end of the day, you'll just realize that one bad comment could not destroy the hundreds of great comments that you have received. You should not look at the dot in the middle of the paper. You ought to get a pencil, then start tracing an image on that dot & transform it into something beautiful.

Constructive criticism is something that will make your blog a lot better! As what my favorite saying goes "what doesn't kill you will just make you stronger". It is indeed true!

So, for those who keeps on asking me some tips on how to blog. You won't need any.
I think that you should just do what you feel like doing but just make sure that you exercise tact & be responsible with what you post. That's it! There's no right or wrong blog. It's all just in the person's perspective.

Just a little note for YOU, my dear reader.
Thank YOU for supporting my blog. My blog will cease to exist without YOU.
YOUR endless support is the thing that keeps my blog going.
I hope that YOU will continue supporting my blog & i promise to give my best & write out posts that YOU will find helpful & informative at the same time.

Sorry for this long & boring ramblings but i figured that it's best to just get this out & done with. I would love to know what you think about beauty blogging... whether as a reader or as a blogger.
^_^

Hope you are all having a great evening/day!
Have a happy week!

Jaa ne~!
^_~

Press Release: Nivea Sparkling White Acne Oil Control Facial Foam

2011-11-11T19:05:00.000+08:00

One of my favorite skin care brand has upped their product by releasing a facial foam targeted specifically for those who are acne-prone & oily-skinned individuals.

I know that you can now see this in Watsons & the leading department stores & supermarkets but it's never too late to get to know what it does, ne?

Who is it for?

For beauty seekers and modern women of today, who would like to have fair and glowing skin but feels that plain white is not enough as they also experience other problems such as excessive oiliness, acne, spots and marks and large pores.

NEW NIVEA Sparkling White Acne Oil Control Foam is a 5-in-1 product that solves different problems of Filipina skin to give her not just fair skin but totally clear as well even up close.

What does it do?

NIVEA VISAGE Sparkling White Acne Oil Control contains 2x smaller molecule of:

- Acne Reduction Technology that cleans deeper into pores by effectively lifting dirt and oil which is the cause of acne

- Skin Nutrient Formula that helps lighten acne marks and dark spots.

The 5 main actions of NIVEA VISAGE Sparkling White Acne Oil Control Foam on different impurities (oil, acne marks, dark spots, enlarged pores and dirt) are the following:

Cleans into pores to remove dirt & 90% of oil
. Reduction Technology helps prevent acne
.. Skin Nutrient Formula helps lighten dark spots & blemishes
.Minimizes appearance of pores
. Smoothens skin without dry feeling

I am currently using this & i haven't experienced any bad things so i'll keep on using this & let you know some day,ok?

Hope that you are enjoying the evening/day,girls!

Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:

make sure you join my Happy Beautiful Christmas Giveaway,ok?

HBC Giveaway Week 1: Hair Affair (CLOSED)

2011-11-10T12:06:00.002+08:00

It's no joke that our hair is our crowning glory.

Why is that when a lady is feeling down, she would go straight to the salon to get a make-over,ne? Most often than not it's got something to do with their hair. There are a lot of reasons, even psychological reasons, but to put it simply it's just because we want to look & feel different,ne?

You know, what, I am really really curious as to how it feels to have a shaved head. I love having long hair, but i often wonder how convenient it could be if i won't have to tie my hair when i am inside a speeding vehicle with the wind blowing, how you could easily slip on a hat without worrying if your hair will go flat, how i could save money without having to buy shampoos & conditioners every week or so, how it would feel like lying on a fresh, crisp, newly laundered bed sheet....

Am i the only one who is curious about it? I guess i'm not really a traditional filipina when it comes to things like this because my curiosity knows no bounds! haha. But hey, it doesn't mean i would want to give my locks away. I love my curly hair!

Enough about the talk... let's talk about the giveaway!
Unfortunately, this is open only to Phillipine residents. My international readers don't have to wqorry though because i'll be having a giveaway for you some time.
^_~

As what i said before, HBC is kind enough to sponsor a giveaway for my lovely readers. Every week, until Christmas, we would have a series of questions for you. One lucky commenter will win the products featured on that post. The winner will be contacted by HBC & will then pick up the products in the nearest HBC store. Easy,huh?

Let's get to the rules:

Just answer the question that is posted. (required)
Follow of my blog. (required)
You have to LIKE HBC's facebook page . Make a post about this giveaway on your facebook. Make sure you tag HBC & On Beauty Stuff & What Else's so that we can see it. (required)
Leave your complete name, email address & the link of the post that you made on the comment box (required)
Like my Facebook page (additional entry)
Tweeted the giveaway (additional entry)
Blogged about it (additional entry)
Added me on your blogroll (additional entry)

I have an example entry below for reference...

Now, let's go to our week 1 question...

This week, I will make sure to pamper my hair.

The right products make a world of difference when it comes to taking care of your crowning glory. Beat frizz, tikwas, and all traces of a bad hair day with a few drops of serum, a mist of hairspray, or a dollop of gel.

Anti-frizz or shiny finish? HBC has got you covered with these products from Hortaleza Professional. Stylize everyday with these great finds. All you have to do is share with us what great looking hair is for you, your most unforgettable hair nightmare and what you did to turn it around. Happy Beautiful Christmas!

Please share your thoughts about great looking hair, your most unforgettable hair nightmare & how you were able to turn it around. Best answer would win the featured products above! How cool is that?!

I remember a friend of mine using the hair cuticle coat & she said it's the best one she has tried so far, that i coming from someone who can afford to buy Jonathan, Frederic Fekkai & other expensive hair products! That is definitely something!!!!

An example entry would be:
1. Great looking hair is... My unforgettable hair nightmare was during..... & to make the best out of it I...
2. I'm a follower of your blog - my GFC name is thiamere
3. I liked HBC's fb page - my name is thiamere
4. name: Thiamere
email address: thiamere@kuririnmail.com
posted it here: (fb link)

5. I liked your Fb page - my name is thiamere
6. I tweeted it here: (tweet link)
7. I blogged it here: (blog link)
8. I added your blogroll here: (your blog page)

fyi:
if you don't know how to get the fb link that you posted just click the time lapse that you see right next to the like/comment button.

I'll tell you about my hair nightmare maybe when i announced the winner.

So tell me, girls, how did you made yourself from drab to fab?
I'm dying to know!
^_~

Hope you all are having a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Happy Beautiful Christmas by HBC

2011-11-08T18:42:00.001+08:00

The countdown to the Christmas season has begun & what's a better way to do it by doing giveaways,right?!

HBC is generous enough to give me an opportunity to do this series of weekly giveaways until the holidays! I'm so excited!

Starting this week, i'll be posting a series of questions that will feature HBC products. You just have to answer it & you will be given a chance to win those. How cool is that?!

If you haven't tried HBc products yet, now is the chance for you to get to know this amazing brand. I have a couple of products their products that i really like so much! I'll make a post about them later on,ok?

Make sure you check back every now & then for magical questions,ok?

Jaa ne~!
^_~

ONE Solid Shampoo Hair Biscuit Review

2011-11-07T23:59:00.000+08:00

I haven't tried any solid shampoos yet so i am mighty curious about this. I know that Lush has solid shampoos but i have always been mighty curious about ONE that when i was strolling one time at SM i checked it out & since the SA said that it's on discount so i bought it.

I have to say that i am drawn to their packaging because it's made of carton with all those 'eco-friendly' vibe it is giving off. ONE Naturales is all about recapturing natural beauty with their line of organic, natural & eco-friendly skin & hair products... sounds promising,huh?

ONE has a couple of variants of solid shampoos, one is for oily hair & i think they have something for blondes, this one is for yummy-looking hair. I'm not really sure what yummy-looking hair means, but since my hair is dry i can't use the one for oily hair so i am left with no option at all. I checked the website & they have a lot of solid shampoo variants but i remember that they only have 3 variants available... maybe it's just me.

A bar of shampoo is equals to 3 8oz. bottles of shampoo. That would definitely be cheaper in the long run,ne? I think the regular price of this is Php 450 if im not mistaken. I bought mine for Php 250.

It's in a tin packaging like so. You can definitely use the carton for putting in trinkets or whatever. I think the packaging is really cute!

Now, how do you use it?
Just rub it on wet hair. It's that simple & let me tell you, this lathers really good!
I ran the bar over my hair 2x & i was able to work up a pretty good lather. Now i know that you can really save more with this!

I enjoyed massaging my scalp as i am shampooing. The smell could be quite powerful but not really that strong. I have a sensitive sense of smell as what i keep on saying & i was able to use this.. didn't give me a nausea (which i experience most often when one product smells too strongly) so i guess it's not that bad.

The scent is quite unique on it's own. It's kinda flowery & girly. If you like the scent, you can just leave it on your room!

Now the problem is, maybe i lathered it too much that i ended up with my hair drying. I didn't use conditioner at that time because i want to see & feel the difference. Unfortunately, i have a pretty un-manageable locks. My hair looks so frizzy, lifeless, dull & really dry upon using this alone. I guess i should have also bought the solid conditioner,huh?

note:
Sodium Lauryl/eth Sulfate is the ingredient that makes our shampoos lather, too much could actually end up drying the hair & in some cases even hair loss.

I used the regular conditioner that i use the next day & i didn't have any problem at all. But as i continue using it everyday, i notice that my hair ended up getting drier, so is my scalp that it resulted to flaking. Tsk!

I had to stop using it. I don't really blame this in making my hair dry because i have a really hard-to-manage hair. One hair c are system could be my hair's best friend for a couple of days & it would just end up drying my hair after 4 days.. even if i used deep cleaning shampoo to get rid of residues.
*sigh*

Even my favorite Pure Beauty Camellia line stopped working on me even if i have switched to different line then went back to it (thinking of the usual "maybe my hair just got immune to it" reason - which is actually just crap). I will be going back to that line after a couple of months because that is really the only line that gave me what i wanted!

Going back, this shampoo will be really good for those that got normal, non-frizzy, straight hair because i think it will actually give the hair volume. In my case,my hair already has body so if ever i use a product that gives volume my hair just ends up getting all frizzy.

How big is this?
A little smaller than your average soap, but i'm sure that this will indeed lasts months just because you can really get a good lather going with just a couple of swipe!

I mentioned the price a little while ago. I think this is actually sold regularly for Php 450 (i still think it's expensive,mind you) but do check out ONE because they do give discounts some time. I got it for Php 250 at that time but since i saw the 1bar=3 bottles so i figured that it's worth it..haha!

PROS:

great packaging - recyclable
eco-friendly
could last a long time
smells nice
great lather
space-saver
cruelty-free

CONS:

too sudsy for me - ended up drying my hair
could be expensive at first
not for those that got sensitive sense of smell

Will i buy it again?
Nah, not really.
This could last a long time for me & since my hair is very unpredictable. i'm guessing that this could even last a year for me because i can't use it continuously. But i will definitely try out the Solid Conditioner the next time!

Have you tried out Solid Shampoos?

My journey to soft & healthy hair is still not done.
*sigh*

Have a great day/evening,ladies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

finally~! i'm back in action!

2011-11-05T22:56:00.001+08:00

I'm back! Tadaima~!
I wasn't able to blog because of pc problems... im just glad that i got everything back!
Yokatta na!
I panicked when my pc won't start at all & kept thinking of the worst scenario... which would be saying goodbye to all my files..my books, pictures & notes. Good thing that everything is fine now & my memory is a lot bigger now. Double yay!

Last Saturday, i went to the Majolica Majorca Workshop together with one of my really dear friend, Kite. She said she hasn't attended a make-up workshop before & is looking forward to it.

Here are some of the products that they carry...

I am really intrigued on their Skin Lingerie Pore Cover because i am really looking for a good primer that doesn't have silicone on. I asked their MUA if it contains silicone & unfortunately it does.
so sad...

By the way, they have a new collection called "Glass Trick". See their wall?
^_~

MM mascara is one of the best!
I would really love to buy their mascara but the price is outrageous! They retail for Php 795. Im sorry for bursting any bubbles that you have over me that i prefer high-end brands because im a poor beauty blogger. haha! I am just an average woman with an average budget when it comes to cosmetics.

I refuse to spend more than Php 500 for a product that i can only use for 3 months. But if you have the money to burn, then try it. I'm sure that it's worth every peso!

Before the workshop started they introduced Majolica Majorca & what's behind the name...
I said before that i find the packaging of MM really cute & there is actually a story behind their logo.

Once upon a time there lived a bird.
She was small, and insignificant, and had no beautiful feathers or a shiny tail.
But her heart was innocent and true.

The bird loved beautiful things, and she always wished she could become beautiful too.
Each and every day she searched and searched for feathers that were beautiful or unusual, and adorned her body with them.
Before she knew it, the bird had become strangely attractive and unlike any other.
Her beauty was totally unique, fascinating and captivating.

The Goddess of Beauty had watched all this, and she felt admiration for the bird’s courage and aesthetic creativity.
The Goddess chanted a spell: “MAJOLICA MAJORCA!”

Then a wonderful thing happened!
The feathers adorning the bird’s body all became real, and a tiny crown appeared on top of the bird’s head.

The bird had become the Goddess’ chosen princess, an evangelist of beauty.
“Now,” said the Goddess to the bird, “Go forward into the world and make all the girls beautiful.”

Isn't that story nice?
That's what Majolica Majorca has been doing ever since!

Anyway, the workshop is good for those who doesn't have a basic idea about make-up application. They covered the day to night make-up.

After the workshop, Aimee, said hello.
I'm glad that she actually approached me because i would have missed her if not. Aimee is really gorgeous!

I hope that we would get to see each other some other time in different events,sweetie!
^_^

I'll try to make-up for the time that i wasn't able to blog,hunnies.
I'll be posting a couple of reviews this week.

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

The Casa Ibiza experience~

2011-10-27T12:24:00.006+08:00

Don't you like it when you are able to snag a good deal at group buying sites? We were able to get the chance to stay at Casa Ibiza for half the price, that's all thanks to Metrodeal!

We have an overnight accommodation on their deluxe villa. Let me give you a tour of their amenities. I hope that this post would be helpful for those who are thinking of staying here & knowing what & not to expect.

The gate of this place is not easy to miss seeing as how wide it is. You'll easily see how beautiful it looks like!
I like how colorful the villas are. It really stands out amidst the lush greens!

See how bright it is?

We stayed on the yellow villa...

It looks big, but you only get to occupy the 2nd & 3rd floor. I think the 1st floor is like a store room of sorts.. not sure though. You have to climb the 2 set of stairs to get to the "villa". If you are relating the word 'villa' as big & grand then brace yourself because it is more like a small studio unit.

We are 6 in all, my parents, me, my 2 brothers & our grandma. They said that the deluxe villa could accommodate a maximum of 6 persons. Yes, it can accommodate 6 if one of them is just a kid. If so, then the kid would have to sleep with the parents on the masters bedroom, but for all 6 adults, i don't think so. I'll explain later...

You'll be greeted with their really tiny but comfortable living room. Personally, i don't think you can use the word 'room' to describe it because it is really tiny! If you stretch out your arms, you would be able to span the width of it.

The dining room is on the right side...

Cute little note
^_~

The dining area..
It has a refrigerator & a sink. I forgot to take a picture of because i am standing on this area when i took this. hehe

That's the first floor...
Let's go up!

Master's Bedroom first...
The roomiest bedroom! It has a dresser & also a tiny balcony... no picture.. i forgot again. tsk! But it's behind the curtain...

Then it got 2 more tiny bedrooms that looks like this.

It's really tiny! See how my brother can span the whole space with his arms outstretch?!

Sorry about my left hand blocking the picture..tsk!
Seriously! Jem, how bad is your picture-taking skills?!
LOL!

Now that you've seen for yourself, how tiny it is I guess you can understand how hard it is to let all 6 adults sleep comfortably. The sofa on the living room can only accommodate 1 person. Imo, the deluxe villa could only accommodate a maximum of 5 persons. But of course, i know how pinoys could be creative. I'm sure you'll find a way to make it work. We did!
^_~

Let's go down & take a tour of the surrounding.
That is their pool bar. The children's pool is on the right side...

They are set for Halloween!

Children's pool...

I must admit that i'm drawn to how cheery it looks like!

Those are the cabanas that are near the sprawling pool. I'm standing on the bridgeway by the way.

This is the cabana...

Then the sprawling pool...
It's not really deep because the deepest is just 5 feet & the shallow part is 4 feet.

It even has a very lush waterfall setting. I like it!

They also have a gazebo at the center for they do accommodations for pre-nuptial photo shoots too!

They call this as Haven, which is a big function hall for any special events.

They also have a horse stable, his name is Tigershark (based on the website).

We took a dip later on... spent some time on the pool taking underwater pictures & doing some antics. I like how the water is just right. It doesn't contain high amount of chlorine that could dry out your hair in an instant.

The place looks great during evening time too!

We just ordered from them for our dinner. They have a nice selection of food. Just click THIS LINK to see their menu.

They would have complimentary breakfast for each guest. You can either choose from these 3 choices..

Garlic rice with ham & eggs

Garlic rice with corned beef & eggs

Garlic rice with longganisa (traditional filipino sausage) & eggs

served with either hot coffee...

or ice-cold orange juice!

The breakfast is simple yet scrumptious!
With how beautiful the surrounding is, you'll have a grand time taking pictures! We did! haha!

The staff are very accommodating but i have to say that they don't have a lot of staff though. I can understand how some people say that there are not enough people to accommodate your needs but it could also be a positive thing because you don't have a lot of people there ensuring you of privacy & quality relaxation time.

Luckily, there are no other guests staying the time we were there so we have the whole resort all to ourselves! ahahaha! How great is that?!

Now, some points to remember.
- You have to give a refundable security deposit of Php 2000 upon check-in (again,it's refundable) for any expenses that you might incur during your stay.
-Excess rate for every person would be Php 500/adult & Php 300/kids
-You have to register the foods that you will be bringing in the resort. I'm not sure though if that also counts any packed lunch because all we have are just tons of chips! haha!
-No pets allowed
-They don't have any lifeguards, but then i guess you won't really need to since the pool is not deep to start with. Just make sure that kids must be under adult supervision when playing on the pool.
-They also have some spa services! We just didn't avail of it anymore.

We enjoyed our stay & i can see that we will be staying here again in the future!

Lola, where are you looking at? LOL!
I like how everything is just so beautiful!

You can see more pictures on their website.
Hope you find this post helpful!

Jaa ne~!
^_^

curious about make-up workshops?

2011-10-22T10:10:00.003+08:00

I mentioned before that i attended a make-up workshop,ne?
You can click HERE & HERE.
It was a fun workshop!
This is perfect for beginners & would want to know more about the basics of make-up application.

LinxProvi8 is going to conduct another workshop!
You can go over to Wowdeals.ph for more information or click HERE to be directed to the deal.

I know how expensive make-up workshops are because i have tried looking for others so i'm glad that i luckily came across this deal. I had fun on my workshop, i'm sure you'll have fun as well. You'll get to pick up things that would be handy when you apply your own make-up.

If you will attend the workshop do say hello to Miss Joy & Miss Jayvee for me,ok?

Hope you'll have a happy weekend,ladies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
i was not paid to do a post about this workshop. i just want to share it to my readers who have been asking me about the workshop that i had.

Acne-free & loving it~!

2011-10-20T10:32:00.004+08:00

That's all thanks to Diamond's Orange Peel & L-Glutathione Soap! It's THE ONE!

I ate my words but i don't mind, because this is THE ONE! The one solution to my problem!

For those who have been following my blog, you know how i suffered from adult acne. Yes, suffered! OMG! I can't believe that I can now use the past tense because i am now acne-free! I have been raving & recommending this soap whenever i would receive queries about acne. Why?

Let the pictures do the talking....

This is how my skin looked like when i did my post about this soap. You can read it HERE.
Now, after 6 months of continued use this is how my skin looks like NOW without anything on.

Go ahead, click it!
I don't mind you looking at it because my acne is gone! That red mark there is not acne.

Sugoi,ne?!
Amazing,huh?!

I don't have a perfect skin, but i am now confident enough to go out without make-up on. I know i have large pores, but that's the least of my concern because after suffering from acne, you'll realize how minuscule that is compare to acne.

I still have some things that i want to improve on my skin mainly a mild case of acne-scar, large pores, blackheads, broken capillaries, uneven skin tone amongst others but again, im just simply relieved to know that my "acne stage" is finally over! It's really embarrassing to suffer from acne. You go through your everyday activity feeling conscious thinking that people are looking at your acne & not at you when you talk.

It is really a big blow to your self-confidence. I'm just really really glad that my journey to acne-fighting has come to an end.
*whew*

I'm not saying that i can't have pimples anymore. I still get an occasional zit or two, especially during the time of the month but what's amazing about this is that when i use this, it will not grow into a full-grown zit. It will reduce in size & will just disappear! I won't even notice that it's gone!

I love love love this soap!
You might ask me what skin care products do i use?
I'll tell you...
day care - Nivea Visage Sparkling White UV Blocker
night care - Collagen by Watsons

You might ask me too if maybe it's the effect of the Nivea why i am acne-free. I don't think so because there was a time when i ran out of this soap, i just used the facial wash that i have here but i broke out. I immediately have to run (literally!) to Hortaleza just to buy this soap. I'm really convinced that it is this soap that made my zits go away!

I'm not an expert,ok? Just a simple blogger who has endless curiosity about things so i made a little research about the effects of orange peel on the skin & i found out that orange peel has been used as a home remedy for treating acne. You can use it as a facial mask too!

The typical home remedy is to finely grind the skin with some water until you achieve a paste-like consistency then apply it on the affected area. If you want to use it as a facial mask, you can click HERE for further info.

It is said to even be used to treat cellulite!
Amazing!
Now i won't look at orange like how i did before. I can see myself saving the orange peels starting now.

I tried looking for explanation of the components of orange peel & how it works on the skin but simple ol' me can't find any, for now. I just don't have the luxury of time now but i'll sit on it one day to look for explanations,ok?

But for now, my pictures did the talking. You see the effect, so i hope that it helped you somehow in deciding if this soap could work for you.

One thing though, again like what i said on my review, that the packaging makes it really easy to miss.
I have browsed Watsons countless of times thinking that it's not available. I had to even ask the SA's if they have it but only to be dismayed that it's there sitting prettily without me noticing it. This goes on every time i am looking for it. Is it just my eyes or me?

But whatever, I will continue pestering SA's just so that i could get myself a bar or two. I have been repurchasing this soap again & again & again. I can't live without it! This is my saving grace!
Thank you, God for small things!
Nah, this is not small, this is a major thing for me!

If you try this do let me know how it works for you,ok?

Hope you all have a great day,hunnies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Birthday haul~

2011-10-18T21:53:00.002+08:00

Thanks for all the birthday greetings,hunnies!
I appreciate it!
Arigato,minna-san!
^_^

It's only now that i realize how fast time flies because i'm already 27. I honestly do not feel any different from when i was in my early 20's now that i'm almost in my late 20's! hahaha! I guess it's true that age is just a number,ne?

I hauled a couple of things. I mainly do haul post not to brag or show-off but it serves as a guide for me to know when i started using a product. My haul post had saved me thousands of times in being able to identify which stuff i need to throw out & what i can still use especially mascaras!

I used to put stickers on the products to indicate when i started using it but ever since i ran out of sticker labels it went ka-boom! LOL!

I'll start it first with my prize from the Benefit Philippines on their contest.

One of their famous product, Benetint!
Waaahhhh! Ureshii!
Thank you, Benefit Philippines!
^_^

I went to Robinson's Place last Saturday (with Lea) & Sunday (with my family) so i was able to visit Saizen. I bout a couple of stuff.

The Charcoal soap, i've tried before & it's a good deodorant soap. It's better than those sulfur soaps, i think. Then i saw this Cleansing Water. I prefer Cleansing Water than Oil so i thought that i should give this one a shot.

Then on my 2nd trip to Saizen i bought the Daiso Charcoal mask & the black fiber mascara.

If you haven't tried the charcoal mask, you ought to. It's one of the best peel-off masque that i've tried! It will really lift those blasted blackheads off of your skin!

I'm not really giving much hope to this mascara, but since this is fiber so i decided to include this. Anyway, it's only Php 85 so it's not expensive. Will let you know how it fares once i've opened it up.

Stopped by at the beauty bar & i decided to grab one of my favorite falsies, the number 21.

For those who haven't tried natural falsies, you have to! It's way way better than synthetic ones!
I know that Ardell lashes are expensive here in the Philippines, it's priced for Php 400 a pop while Andrea modlash (same maker of Ardell lashes) is only priced for Php 200 a pop at Beauty Bar! So, make sure you drop by at Beauty Bar. Actually, i only drop by at Beauty Bar for the Andrea lashes..haha!

Then i went to SM North Edsa before & i purchased this Solid Shampoo from ONE just because it's on sale. I think it was priced for Php 400 before. I got it for only Php 250. I haven't tried solid shampoos yet so this is my first time.

They said this is their best seller. I have yet to buy the Solid Conditioner. I will drop by at SM again to purchase the Solid Conditioner.

I ran out of Veet Wax Strips but i saw this so i thought of giving it a try.

I'll make a post about it later on.

Also ran out of my favorite Fanny Serrano 2 way cake & was thinking of purchasing one but when i passed by Fashion 21 i decided to check out their 2 way cake. I know that Fashion 21 is also from Mama Fanny so i thought i might as well try it.

I asked Tita Fashion 21 (i call her like that because i always buy from her) what is the closest shade of Duchess in the Fashion 21 powder line & she said it's number 1 so i bought one. Review to be posted din after some time.

When i went to Japan Home Center i saw big 2 way mirror for only Php 88!
Yatta~!
Lucky!

I' already put it on my cosmetic case because it's great to use when applying make-up. You can see everything! That little gingerbread man is a just something that you can wind the earphone wire so it won't get tangled up. I think it's cute!

Then finally, a couple of socks since lately i have been wearing slippers when i go out.

I don't really put sunblock on & it lead to uneven skin tone on my feet. Looks disgusting! Yes, i know it's bad for the skin to not apply sunblock, i just can't because it feels hot & it's like my skin is suffocating. The socks would be so i'll be forced to use my flat shoes with socks on to prevent any tan lines. I also use socks after i apply lotion on my feet. The flexgel is just so that my feet would be comfy.

That's all!
Now, i'll try my best to make a follow-up on the nail art brushes but i fear that it might take a while just because i don't have the time plus the fact that i've cut my nails short so i'm not really into nail arts for now. I make it a point to not apply any nail polish on my nails once it's short.

But next post will definitely be about a re-run for my favorite soap - Orange Peel & L-glutathione. I think i've been using this for more than 6 months now & i'm really really happy with it! I'll be working on that for the meantime.

Thanks for the birthday greetings again,sweeties!
Hope you all will have a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

how-to:nail art brushes + acrylic painting Part 1

2011-10-14T23:36:00.000+08:00

Sorry for not being able to blog regularly. I think i have been apologizing over & over again because of my lack of updates. I hope that you'll be able to forgive me with this post. My long overdue post about nail art brushes.

This 15 pc. brush set is from BornPretty.

It has a pretty good selection of brushes in making different designs. It got detailing, liner, fan, angled, filbert & dotting tools. According to the website it has:
3 drawing tools
7 painting tools
2 liners
1 dotting tool
2 fan brushes for nail art effect

I seriously can't understand why there is a need for 2 fan brushes though. i'd rather have another filbert brush to go with this set.

I prefer acrylic as my medium all because it's easy to work with. You can easily wipe it out when you made an error (provided that it's still wet). Unlike polishes where you have to redo everything once more. I have received tons of questions if it's ok to use the acrylic sets that painters use.

I, myself, use acrylic sets like that. I think as long as you put on base coat, it won't harm your nails. I have even tried using it as my base color & nothing happened on my nails.

note:
Make sure that you do not get the acrylics on the ferrule or you'll risk the bristles of your brush splaying out. Getting the debris out of ferrule is not an easy task. You'll end up ruining your brush when it splayed out, especially for detailing brushes! Just dip the bristles half-way on the acrylic & make sure you clean it after every use.

Let's start by prepping up first & what you need before you start playing with colors.

First of all, you have to remember that acrylic dries fast. It is water-based so you would need to spritz water on it every now & them to keep it easy to work with. So you would need an atomizer filled with water (mine is really small...see that small orange bottle?) to keep it pliable.

Then of course, something that you can use as a pallet. I just use old CDs. Something to wipe your brushes with... kitchen towel or tissue & of course your jar of water to clean your brushes.

Now that we got that out of the way let's go to the brushes...

My favorite brush of all...

THE DETAILING BRUSH

This is the most versatile brush of all because you can make specific designs with this.
Detailing brush has fine tip so that you'll be able to maneuver it easily. I mostly use this on my nail art tutorials. Here are some of the designs that i did using this brush. Just click the title of each picture to see the step by step tutorial on how to make that design.

3d flowers

You just need to have steady hands when doing detailed work, well, since acrylic can be easily removed with wet wipes, you can practice the design as much as you want on the surface without worrying about it.

rose curlicue

You can do lines easily with this brush too...
even dots!

sunny flower

You can also use your polish as your medium, just make sure that you will not get the polish into the ferrule... same goes with acrylics.

heart overload

If there is one brush that i would recommend that you buy, it would be this. You can also use artist brushes. In fact, my favorite detailing brushes are craft brushes. Sizes would vary of course, just go for the smallest ones, which i think is 3/0, if my memory serves me right.

You can do a lot of designs with detailing brushes!
Love love love detailing brushes!

THE FILBERT BRUSH

This is a very nice brush to make flowers with.
Please refer to this illustration on how to make flower petals.

You just need to lay it on the surface then drag it either towards you or going out.
See the 2 different flowers using this brush?
Cute,huh?
^_~

time for spring

This is one design that i made using a filbert brush.

THE STRIPING BRUSH

Striping brush have flat ferrule as opposed to detailing brushes that has a round ferrule.
So, what designs can you make with it?
Basically, you use it to make stripes!

Of course, it doesn't mean you only need to use it for straight lines. You can make waves with this brush too, like this.

This is perfect for making those background waves.

I didn't really do this design for i had it made on the salon, but the brush that was used on this is striping brush.

THE FAN BRUSH

Fan brush can be used to clean the surface among other things.

The top pictures would be to show to make random "flowing" stripes in just a couple of strokes & the 2nd one is how to use it in picking up glitters/pigments. You tap it straight on to your wet polish for that added bling!

I didn't use a fan brush in this nail art but i should have just used it because the end result would just be basically the same.

christmas trees

The grasses on the ring finger is made with a fan brush.

These are just the basic use for the brushes but you don't need to limit yourself to these designs with each brushes. Heck, you can even do flower petals with a striping brush! Just explore these brushes to figure out the different uses.

To be able to see my nails art easily you can click on my FB NAIL ART ALBUM. It would be easy for you to browse through my past designs with blog links on each pictures for reference.

I'll continue with another post to talk about the other brushes like the flat & angled brushes. I actually cut my nails a few days ago so they're really really short now but i don't mind. I am enjoying my shampooing experience because i can get to massage my scalp as much as i can unlike before. LOL!

I just hope that it will grow long by christmas time because i would like to don christmas design on my nails this holiday!

It's going to be my birthday this Sunday. I can't believe how fast time flies.. I'm already 27!
Wow! Where did all the years went? haha!

Anyway, hope that you'll have a happy weekend!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
Product presented as samples. I did not receive any monetary compensations. Opinions posted are mine alone & not influenced by the company.

Body Recipe Face Cleansing Cream Review + update on the body recipe hair remover...

2011-10-11T00:20:00.004+08:00

I hate cleansing creams!
The only ones i can use to remove make-up are cleansing water & oils, lip & eye make-up remover & cold cream. I'm glad that i can use cold cream, anyway, when you think about it cold cream is so thick it doesn't get easily absorbed to your skin as easily as other cleansing creams that has thin consistency.

My skin reacts horribly to cleansing creams. It makes my skin go all red & dry afterwards, leaving me with a painful, burning sensation.
My mates during my make-up workshop can attest to how red my skin can be when i used cleansing creams.
*sigh*

So maybe you're wondering, why the heck did i ever get myself a cleansing cream to think that i have a sensitive skin?!
Wala lang! Feel ko lang! hahaha (No reason at all! I just feel like it!)
XD

Seriously, i used the Body Recipe Milk+ with goat's milk facial mask (when it was still available) way back in college. I like how it can easily get my blackheads out & as far as i remember i didn't suffer from any bad effects so i just decided to leave it to fate. hehe

But i'm actually glad that i have tried this because i think of all the cleansing creams that i have tried this is the only one that i had the least reaction with. That is a good thing, mind you, because i have tried a lot of cleansing creams already, even the ones that are marketed as organic & all-natural. I just have the same reaction to each & every one of them.

What makes this cleansing cream different is that i did not suffer suffer from adverse skin reaction (though there is still some redness here & there but the after-effect of this is smooth & soft skin. I can't believe it! My face just seems soft afterward.
Sugoi!

Enough with that & let's go to the product...

with Goat's Milk!

I'm sure you all know the benefits of milk on the skin. But how is goat's milk different from cow's milk?
I'll let you know!

Did you see how small the ingredients list is?
Let's talk about goat's milk a bit.

Goat's milk is best suited for sensitive-skin. In fact, it even soothes eczema! Why?
Goat's milk particles are smaller than cow's milk which makes absorption a lot easier (whether topically or orally), because of this, you get the benefits faster. Goat's milk also contains AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), which exfoliates the skin.

Widely known for its moisturizing ability and gentleness, goat milk products owe their natural ability to gently cleanse, soften and heal skin to several chemical properties of goat milk. - excerpt taken from everything goat milk.com

With that said, i guess you already have an idea how beneficial goat's milk is to sensitive individuals, im not just talking about those that got sensitive skin but those who are lactose intolerant as well since goat's milk can be a good alternative for you!

On to the product once more...
I like how this has a double lid.

Just to make sure that the product is kept fresh & for hygienic purpose too!

Here is how it look like...

It looks thinner than the traditional cold cream. It's this consistency that makes me go "uh-oh" because it means that it is easily absorbed by the skin.

It's easy to remove face make-up with removers, ne? The real test is in the eye make-up!

Can this withstand the test of waterproof liquid liners & mascaras?

Just take a look at the picture....

I'm happy to say that it was able to remove stubborn liners & mascara. yay!
You just need to massage it for quite a while.. it will do the job.
Then wipe it off with wet tissue.

I said that it was able to make my skin soft & smooth after use,ne?
I am really surprised that it did! That was the least result that i was expecting. I'm just after removing my make-up but the added benefits are well appreciated! Well, it has lactic acid (also AHA) so it exfoliates the skin... goodbye, dead skin cells, hello new skin!

It was able to do the job of cold creams (& more) in just a fraction of the price!
This is only Php 46 for 25g.

I don't know if there was just an error before when i bought the small tub of cold cream on the drugstore because i paid Php 179 for it. I didn't even notice it because it doesn't have a price tag. I just knew it when i looked at the receipt. Oh,well! a little goes a long way for cold creams anyway,ne?

I said that i still had a bit of skin reaction,right?
It's not bad...really!

Only a bit of redness on the nose area & also the left cheekbone but that's it. When i use cleansing creams, my whole face would turn all red. Just like a bad case of sunburn!

This is the first cleansing cream that i have used that i could actually abide with. I will not say that i did not suffer from the burning/tingling sensation but since this is somewhat cool/refreshing i don't mind using it.

PROS:

locally available/made
cheap
removed my make-up completely
made my skin feel soft & smooth afterward
great packaging
not greasy

CONS:

i suffered from redness
burning/tingling sensation
has a strong scent (but disappears later on)

Will i buy it?

Maybe...

I would definitely buy it if it didn't make my skin red, but the benefits is something that i haven't experienced with other removers so i'm still undecided.

Well then, if you're not like me & likes cleansing creams as make-up remover then this is a nice product to try!
^_^

Now, on with the update of the Body Recipe Hair Remover Cream.
I used it August 17, now it's October 11 already. I haven't shaved/waxed my legs ever since so you have to expect that i have a man-leg already. haha!

I can't believe that i went for 2 months without removing my hair!
Tsk!

Anyway, this is almost the same with shaving with a little bit of difference.
When i shave my leg hair, i can already feel the stubble after a day or two. After a week, it will have visible stubble. After two weeks, it will grow longer & let me tell you, that prickly feel from the hairs that were cut by the razor is annoying as hell! This is how shaved hair looks like when it grows under microscope.

photo from brazilswaxingcenter.com

That's what makes the hair remover cream different from shaving. Since this will completely dissolve the hair, it won't give you that straight cut on the hair. It would somehow make the ends softer, though not as fine as waxing. Hey, this is painless unlike waxing! haha!

Another good thing is that this would give you less ingrown hair!
How's that?!
Main reason why i quit shaving is because of ingrown hairs.... tsk tsk tsk!

I still prefer waxing though!
XD

Well, with that, hope i'm able to answer your questions about it.

Have a great week,ladies!
^_^
Jaa ne~!

ps:
Products presented as samples. I did not receive any monetary compensations. Opinions posted are mine alone & not influenced by the company.

Upcoming posts....

2011-10-06T12:08:00.002+08:00

Some of the things that i have here are what i bought & what i received that i will be making a post about one of these days.

Let's start with the Ever Bilena Pro longwear lipstick....

Ever Bilena Pro longwear lipstick - Php 155 each

I never knew that Ever Bilena had already upped their lippies. They released their Pro lipsticks. I think they have 10 shades..based on what i remember. I only saw the pro longwear but Maggie made a post about the pro lipstick with shimmer HERE.

I'm not a fan of shimmers so i just choose something that has the least bit shimmer but would still be flattering. I got the Polish shade. I have only tried it once & it's ok. I even tried applying it on my lips without any lip balm & it didn't give me that tingly feel unlike the first time i tried applying MAC's mac red on my bare lips.

Review to be posted after a couple more tries...

Then when i went to SM Manila, for the sole intention of buying Etude House' Bubble Hair Color (which unfortunately is out of stock..as always!) i also dropped by the department store & saw these premium brushes by Marionnaud.

angled/brow brush - Php 119

concealer brush - Php 99

I bought the concealer brush (though i still have their regular concealer brush) & angled brush. I just needed an angled brush but i couldn't resist buying the concealer brush as well. I am liking the premium version of their brushes. The handle is quite sleek because it has that velvety feel!

Me likey a lot~!

Next is the Eyeko Line & Shine Duo Color Pencil for Eyes in Electric Purple & Plum

It's so cute~!
Again, review to be posted after a couple of tries.

Then BornPretty sent me a couple of stuff to try again...

Their nail care kit. I have been using this ever since i got them & i have to saa that i am liking it so far...especially the strengthener!

Then a brush set...

I have promised before that i will be doing a post about how to use the brushes. It's just that i can't decided how i will do my post. If i will put them all in one post or i'll make a separate post per brush.. but that will take a long time. I have to decide first..hehe

They even included some Hello Kitty nail decal!

kawaii~!
^_^

Arigatou, Jayce!

Last but not the least, just a little while ago i received the package from Milk & Cookie because i won their giveaway!

yatta~!
Thanks,girls!

It really made me smile when it was even delivered straight to my house.. haha!
This is the 2nd time that package was delivered straight here...
yay!

I know i'm lagging behind in posts again,girls. Please bear with me because i have a lot of things on my plate & it's hard to juggle my time. I'll try to update my blog every now & then. You can keep in touch with me on my FB if you just want to drop a message.

I thank you all for showing support & love. I am really happy that i have loyal readers like you. It makes me feel cherishes every time i receive love messages whether it's on my email or on facebook.
*hugs*
You, ladies, are the only reason why i keep on blogging. Thank you so much for the love!

Minna-san, honto ni arogatou gozaimasu!
^_^

Wow!
2 posts in one day...haha!

Hope you all will have a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_~

Food Spot: Hana Restaurant in Little Tokyo

2011-10-06T00:15:00.003+08:00

I met together with Lea again last monday for some girl bonding time. We decided to eat lunch at Little Tokyo.

First spot on the rosters of restos there is Hana.

The resto is actually pretty small, but it has that real japanese feel to it.

It even has that nice sushi bar!

We were just talking while waiting for our orders. We ended up with almost the same order, tempura udon, but the waitress suggested if i want soba just to make it different & i said ok.

Tempura!!!!

There's really a difference when you eat tempura at an authentic japanese restaurant compared to ordinary japanese fast foods. Tempura in regular fast foods are just fried shrimp covered in batter. Tempura here is way way beyond those bland ones that you order somewhere out there.

Hana's tempura is somewhat sticky on the inside, which compliments the refreshing taste of the shrimp. You can really tell that they used fresh shrimps! I have never been a fan of shrimp dishes all because i can't really tell the taste of it from other seafood, but this time, i was able to fully savor the taste of the shrimp!

It's juicy & a bit sticky on the inside but crispy & light on the outside. Ah.... i have to go back if only for their tempura! It gave me a taste of what seafood heaven is like!

Mine is Soba...

I have never tasted Soba this good!
If you are hesitant in trying out japanese noodle dish, start out with this one. I'm sure you'll love it!
Especially for filipinos since the soup base is actually sweet, not too sweet though. Just enough to give your taste buds some sweet tender loving!

The soba is firm yet soft.
Unlike other noodle dishes that i've tried where the noodles are overcooked it just crumbles with the touch of your utensils. It doesn't have any strong taste so it compliments the soup base really well. I just hope that put in a couple slices of kamaboko. I like kamaboko!

I didn't put the tempura in my soba because i don't want to drench it with the soup. I rather like it crispy!

Hers is Udon...

I just also tasted her soup & compare to mine, the udon soup base is not as sweet as mine. I guess it compliments the udon better with the soup base as being savory better than sweet.

banana parfait - Php 180

One of the classic japanese dessert!
I was actually looking for pudding on the menu but since they don't have it so i just copied Lea's order too.hehe

I thought that it's just one of the usual sweet treats that you can order from common dessert shop. Actually, it almost is. The only difference is in the ice cream that they used. I think it's a vanilla flavored home-made ice cream! The texture is really different but i think that's what made it quite special!

Unfortunately, it was drowned with the big dollop of whipped cream & choco syrups but it's still nice to know that it complimented everything perfectly.

The bar for my taste of japanese food has just been raised when i dined at Hana!
Oh, one more thing, Hana is known for their takoyaki.

I tasted their takoyaki the first time i dined there together with Walter. It's good!
Well, im not a fan of ginger so i didn't really like it because of the Beni Shoga, but it's way better than the takoyaki that you buy at the mall. I guess next time i buy takoyaki, i'll just ask them to hold off on Beni Shoga. hehe

We also went to Teppen to buy some groceries... as if i didn't make a stop at Choto Stop for my furikake fix..hehehe

furikake - Php 80 each at Choto Stop

I could live with furikakes alone! hehe
I'm not sure about the shiso furikake though. That's the first one that i've opened. I like sesame leaf but this shiso furikake is quite overwhelming.. hmmm...

On to what i bought at Teppen....

seasoned laver (kim) - Php 45 each ( i bought 5 packs)

I love love love Kim/Gim!

I actually prefer this over Nori.

I just can't describe it but it's more delicious...

instant noodle - Php 25

I'm sorry but i don't know what kind of noodle this is. I think it's still ramyun... just not spicy.

Unlike the Shin ramyun that is soooooooooooooo spicy it makes my ears itch, makes my face red, makes my eyes teary & makes me sweat tons!

LOL

Almond Pepero - Php 39

Yes, it's only Php 39!!!!
Compare to Almond Pocky that you can buy at SM for double or sometimes even triple the price, this one is only for less than a dollar! I actually got 3 boxes but i gave it to my brothers. hehe

Then finally, as if the banana parfait wasn't enough. I asked Lea to also try out their ice creams. She bought an Ice Cream Sandwich, while i got the Double Bianco!

Double Bianco - Php 55

It's not named as Double if it isn't double!

What you see there is the sweet vanilla ice cream generously slathered with thick strawberry syrup, but underneath is a nice surprise! A sorbet! The tangy taste of sorbet compliments the sweetness of the vanilla ice cream!
^_^

I am one happy & full lady!

hahaha!
Thanks for the pic,Lea!
At least hindi na ko mukhang sako dito!
LOL

I'll make a haul post tomorrow.
Hope you all will have a great day,ladies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Collagen by Watsons Hydrating Facial Gel Preview

2011-10-02T23:31:00.003+08:00

Sorry for not being able to blog for a week, i have been so busy with my new schedule.
Lots of students... isogashii, isogashii! (busy, busy)
But it's good... i have to make sure i have enough money to invest on my make-up kit anyway.

I have been using this for almost 3 months now so i guess it's high time i do a review about it. I'm sure you have seen this on the aisle of facial moisturizers in Watsons. I initially bought it because at that time my skin is feeling a little bit dry because i temporarily switched to a different soap.

Since this one has hyaluronic acid & is cheap so i thought to myself, why not? What have i got to lose?
I bought it, been using it since mid-July, & im glad that it didn't broke me out so i used it regularly. I'm glad because even if it has dimethicone, it didn't give me a bad skin reaction.

Yay!
I hope that i'll be able to overcome my problems with silicones.

This will just be a pre-review. I figured that it's better to do a pre-review then do a post later so that it'll be easier in the end.

This is what it says....

I'm sure most of you have heard of collagen. You see it in most anti-aging skin care. I think that it's better to start using collagen earlier rather than at a later age.

Moreover, by the age of 25, collagen levels would start deflating about 1.5% each year. This is the reason why the skin gets wrinkly and nonetheless, old. -by collagencreams.org

What exactly is a collagen?
Collagen.org gave an easy definition of what it is.

Our skin is made mainly of collagen, which is a protein. More than 80% (dry weight) of our skin is made of collagen. There are three major parts to our skin: collagen, elastin, GAGs, Glycosaminoglycans.

Collagen is a main structural protein found throughout our body. Collagen provides the strength our tissue and organs require while elastin provides the ability to stretch and recoil.

Just like what they said, it provides the strength our skin requires to keep it firm & smooth. It's like thin fibers underneath which supports the skin. Take a look at this picture. Those white strands are collagen.

pic taken from pchi-china.com

As we get expose to the sun's damaging rays, the collagen in our skin begins to degrade. That's when you start seeing those fine lines on your skin. That's why most of anti-aging creams these days have it because it enhances the production of collagen beneath the skin therefore promoting a vibrant & younger-looking skin.

But keep in mind that this doesn't work instantly,ok?
I remember reading an article before saying that you can just feel the effect of collagen creams (or most topical products) after 6 months of continued use.

What, with all the hype about collagen you can take them in several forms like as topical creams, as injectables, & also as supplements.

Now that you have an idea about the wonders of collagen, let's get to the product itself.

It's packaged in a big tub, so you have to use a spatula every time you use it. It's in gel form (as what it says).

I was expecting that this won't be heavy on the skin since it's in gel form, but it's a bit heavy & sticky. So don't get a big scoop when you use it. You can get away with just a small amount (just the amount that you'll be able to get if you dip the tip of your finger). It will go a long way! It will make it easier to be absorbed by the skin rather than slathering a think gunk on.

Just apply it how you put your regular moisturizer & wait until it sets before you add another product (if you like to layer on different products). You can either apply this as your last regimen, that is if the other products that you do use are way lighter than this.

I like that the expiration date is included at the bottom so i'll know when to ditch it.

As of now, i am liking it so far, but have not seen/feel any obvious effect. As what i said, it might take more than 6 months before i'll be able to see any results. But currently, i find it an OK product.

One thing that turned me off of it is the scent, it has this weird scent that i find a bit disturbing but it just grew on me later on that i don't pay attention to it like before, anyway, the scent will disappear later on.

I have to say that this is quite cheap!
I think i bought it for only Php 150, more or less ($3).
To think that it is already 100g, you get a big amount of product for what you pay for!
*update*
I went to Watsons today & saw that they are having a promo for this.. it's Buy one get one free for only Php 219.
^_^

PROS:

locally available
affordable
has hyaluronic acid
large amount of product (it's full to the brim)
one tub could last you for a long time (when applying, less is more)
really moisturizing! (best for dry skin, but i am able to use this even if i have combination skin)

CONS:

no spf
heavy & sticky on the skin (less is more)
has dimethicone (silicone)
somewhat strong scent
packaging - have to use spatula pa!
only available in Watsons (obviously)

I'll let you all know what i think about it once i'm finished with this tub. Currently, i'm halfway done with it!
^_~
No bad reaction so far!

Hope you all will have a great October!
This is my birth month....
I hope that this will be a lucky month for me.

Have a great week,hunnies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

A cute start this week!

2011-09-26T09:39:00.001+08:00

Guess what made my weekend so happy?!

My very own personalized clay miniature!!
Kawaii~!
Remember my post about Aiyoh's crafts?
Lookee HERE
I said that i asked her to make me something & it just arrived!

A friend from long ago drew this pic of me & i have been using this for a long time. Sadly, we lost contact. He saw a picture of me wearing the same dress, with my headphone on. He then drew my hair like that because he said my hair is wild...how true! mine is 'un tame-able" LOL!

But every time i see this pic i really remember him.
Addam, hope you are doing ok.
^_^

I asked Aiyoh if she can make me a memento using this & she said yes. I am so happy with the pics that she sent me informing me of the progress... especially on the hair. It's the exact replica of my favorite avatar!

Mitte~
Look!
The details of the hair is awesome!
Sugoi!

Since i can't use it as a cellphone charm & much as i would like to, i can't. I'm already in love with my Japanese doll & Rillakuma charm. She suggested that i have it made as a pen holder so to make sure that my hair won't break or something. I can't bear the thought of something happening to my "thiamere charm" so i yes said.

She then asked me what's my favorite color aside from pink & i said black, so she added black roses.

OMG~!
I'm in heaven!!!

I'm so happy i could fly~!
Isn't this just the cutest thing that ever graced my blog?!

The best thing, this only costs me Php 180. Seriously?!
*faints*
I am really expecting that price only for the charm itself, not the pen holder, but look at what i got.
And, No, it's not a "presyong kaibigan" (price for a friend). This is her regular price.

You're too generous,Aiyoh!!!!
Aiyoh-san, daisuki!
I love you,Aiyoh!

Now i have something that's totally mine!
It's more than just personalized, it's definitely ME!
The only one in the world!

If you are looking for something unique to give to your love ones, then i highly highly highly recommend Aiyoh's crafts.
Do i still need to tell why?!
The pictures said it all,ne?

You can visit her store HERE
Say hello to her facebook HERE
Text her at 09152841675

I'm telling you, you'll be very happy with her works.
I am & I will be the next time i avail her services.

Make sure you include her in your list of stores to visit,ok?
You won't be disappointed!

Something to also make so happy i could dance is that i won Benefit Philippines' facebook contest!
I was shocked when i saw my FB notification that they commented on my pho to entry.
Thank you, Benefit Philippines!
I really can't wait until you open your store!

Well, looks like my September will end in a really really good way!
Except for a tiny mishap because my debit card is damaged & i can't withdraw money until i have it replaced, but that's nothing since i have 2 big reasons why i can't wipe the grin off my face.

The start of this week is rainy, so make sure that you bring in your umbrellas with you, Hunnies!
Have a good week!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Beauty Angel Turn Up Long Mascara Review

2011-09-24T13:00:00.003+08:00

Have you tried fiber mascaras?

Or are you scared of using it for fear that those fibers would somehow poke your eyes? always resorting to false lashes when you want to have longer-looking lashes?

Well now, you won't have to!

I was able to try a lengthening & volumizing fiber mascara without the "fibers"!

Sounds confusing?

When i posted the Etude House Dr. Mascara Fixer, i mentioned a fiber mascara that i was using. Well, this is it!

Turn Up Long Mascara by Beauty Angel

KKCenterhk.com is nice enough to let me try out this mascara.
It's housed in a gigantic tube, much like Fiberwig. There are several colors that you could choose from, i just choose a pink one, but they have blue & green as well. I think the only difference is the color of the packaging but they have same formula.

Honestly, at first i wasn't impressed with it but as i used it every now & then i changed my mind. This is definitely a keeper!

Let's start with the wand...

Looks so ordinary.. no fibers at all!
Told you, this doesn't have very obvious fibers so you won't need to worry about poking your eyes while applying.

I'm already saying in advanced that fiber mascaras are heavy. When i say heavy, it could weigh your lashes down therefore uncurling the lashes that you worked hard to curl... dame da.. not good!

tip:
There are 2 ways to make sure that your curls will stay.

You either use a clear mascara after curling. Just like hair gel, once you put it on, it will keep your hair place. Same rules apply to clear mascaras...
You can apply heat to make sure it will stay longer... think of curling iron. Using a heated eyelash curler or heating your ordinary curler with a hair dryer could also work as well.

I mostly just use a clear mascara (or in this case the Dr. Mascara Fixer) to make sure that my lashes will stay curled for a long time.

Picture time...
click for your reference..

That's only two coats! I'm already quite satisfied with it.
I think it looks nice already!

I have been a fan of fiber mascaras because it is the only one that elongates my puny lashes giving me that feathery look that i've always wanted. But let me tell you one thing why i sometimes get annoyed with fiber mascaras. Most often than not, those tiny black fibers could result to fallout which looks like it's flaking. There were even times when i would just feel like something is in my eye which makes me very uncomfortable.

I have never felt any fibers from the mascara on my eye since this one doesn't have an obvious fibers on. Yay!

The best thing that i like about this is that since this is watery, you can have achieve well-groomed, uniform-looking lashes easily. Again, this takes a while to dry so you can take your time fixing how your want your lashes to look. You can run a lash comb to separate each lashes, or clump them together to have that falsies effect. You can't do that with fiber mascaras now, can you?

Another thing that i like about this is that since this a fiber mascara, you can easily take it off by just using water! But since i am using a waterproof primer underneath, it's pointless, but if you use it alone, removing it is just a breeze!

Now, one thing that turns me off the first time i used it is that it has a weird scent. It has this chemical-scent that i find a bit disturbing. It will go away later though, at least it's not something so awful that will give me a migraine. I'm ok with it since it disappears in time & not really overwhelming.

Another thing that makes me go meh! on this is the drying time. It doesn't dry as long as high end ones. Those waxy, good-for-nothing, "uncurling", mascara from most western cosmetic brands that i've tried dries forever. Well, this is not like that, fortunately, but this still takes a while.

Just make sure that you don't rub your eyes while this is drying,ok?
But once this is dries, it's really dry. No flaking or smudging!
Yay!

Those are my issues, but this is nevertheless, a great mascara.
It's a keeper in my book!

As always, i'll leave the price to you.. it's sold for $12.10 at KKCenterhk.com.

PROS:

funky & cool-looking packaging (you can choose diff colors)
no obvious fibers so no fear of it poking your eyes
buildable
lengthens & "volumizes" the lashes
no smudging & flaking (once it's dry)
can be removed very easily!

CONS:

takes a while to dry
disturbing scent
could weigh the curls down (use either of the method that i mentioned)
available online (but they offer free shipping worldwide!)

I would put this on my products-to-try again list!
If ever you buy something at KKCenterhk.com make sure you include this in your shopping basket,ok?

Have a great Saturday,hunnies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
Product sent as sample. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Opinion shared is personal view & is no way influenced by the company. Use at your own discretion.

Weekend Nails:Black Lace Sticker

2011-09-22T13:28:00.005+08:00

A quick post!

I'm glad that you all like my weekend nails on my last post. I also like it..haha!
I had searched high & low for black lace stickers & im just glad that La Una Loca Nail Art have those. It's my go-to store for my nail art needs.

What i like about this lace sticker is that it is flat.

Unlike the usual 3d stickers that protrudes, this one doesn't so it really sticks to your nail & won't be "lifted" very easily. 2 coats of top coat to seal it in will do the job. Compare to the usual stickers, you have to use like 4-5 top coats, but it will still be removed very easily. This one lasted on my nails really long!

This design is really easy!
Sorry, the pic at the bottom (with the dots) looks different because i had to redo the tutorial & now i can't find that specific lace pattern that i used here... so gomen ne.

I leave the choice of colors to you.
I used blue, yellow & green as my dots, but you can just use 1 or more colors depending on how you want it to look! I just figured that since my base is black,i'll just go for bright, fun colors rather than just one.

You can visit Lynette's page if you are interested in this kind of lace stickers. I bought mine for only 3pcs for Php 100.

Hope you all have a great day,ladies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^