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Beauty

    Beauty, Reviews

    Review: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hours Eyeshadow

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    Hi everyone!

    It’s the rainy season again here in the Philippines and I thought of reviewing some items that are quite perfect for the rainy season: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hours Eyeshadow. Well, they are actually more suitable for summer since they’re cream shadows and they have such vibrant colors. However, I think that they are perfect for the rainy season as well because these lovelies can withstand the constant battle between the sun and rain. I purchased these Maybelline cream shadow gems US last year. I saw them in one of the many drug store there and I grabbed four shades: Tenacious Teal, Pomegranate Pink, Painted Purple, and Too Cool.

    Product

    These are cream  eyeshadows that have intense color payoff and are supposed to last 24 hours. Each eyeshadow is housed in a sturdy glass jar with a black screw on lid. The packaging is really nice and does not feel cheap at all. They remind me of MAC paint pots, actually.

    What I Love:

    • The formulation is excellent. They are super creamy and easy to spread out. They dry quickly though. Make sure to apply on one eye at a time.
    • The shades I purchased had wonderful color payoff. I picked out two loud shades and two more wearable shades.
    • They can be used as an eyeshadow base, eyeshadow alone, and eyeliner. I love that cream eyeshadows have so many functions. <3
    • I tried these on one at a time and did not experience any creasing or fading for around 15 hours. I don’t like wearing makeup overnight so I wasn’t able to test it out for the full 24 hours.

    What I dont like:

    • Since the packaging is really nice, these eyeshadows may not be travel friendly because they pack on a LOT of weight to  your travel make-up kit. (It’s not really a bad thing for me though. Just pointing it out. ;)

    Tips and Final Thoughts

    • When you’re in a hurry, you can use your fingers to apply this on your lids.
    • Use the bright colors as eyeliners for a pop of color on your peepers.
    • Use the white shade to make your eyeshadow appear more vibrant.
    • Use the pomegranate pink (which actually looks like a bronzey shade to me) as an eyeshadow base to your neutral eye makeup look.
    I really like these Maybelline cream eyeshadows because they are a cheap yet high quality alternatives to the very famous MAC paint pots. I recommend you guys to grab a shade or two if you can! :)

    Shades and Swatches

    Tenacious Teal

    Tenacious Teal

     Tenacious Teal

    Pomegranate Pink

    Pomegranate Pink

    Pomegranate Pink

    Painted Purple

    Painted Purple

    Painted Purple

    Too Cool

    Too Cool

    Too Cool

     What do you guys think?? :)

    xoxo,

     

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    Beauty, Reviews

    Review: Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner

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    I haven’t been using gel liners until recently because I remember them having a really short shelf life which is why I was discouraged from buying them for quite some time.

    The other day, I was shopping for some basic cosmetics on a rush at Watsons and came across the Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner and I decided to give it a try in black 01. They claim for it to have a “new improved formula, more intense, upto 36 hours lasting, smudgeproof and waterproof“.

    I had the first Maybelline LAsting Drama Gel Liner but I already tossed it out because it dried up already.

    What I love about the product:

    • The formulation is wonderful! The gel liner is so smooth, creamy and easy to apply.
    • Pigmentation is excellent. It comes out as a true black. It didn’t have a gloss of any sort.
    • It comes with a small flat dome-shaped brush. The brush is small enough to line on small asian eye like mine but I feel like it could appreciate the brush more if it was an angled brush just because it would be easier to wing out my eyeliner with one. The brush is also stiff enough to create lines.
    • Nonetheless, the brush is useful because it is long enough to fit my hand and allows me to comfortably line my eyes.
    • The packaging is so much better in my opinion! The old one had screw type lid as well but the lid itself is so much different from the old one. The new and improved lid suits my taste a lot more.
    • It’s very affordable! It’s about 500 pesos give or take.

    What I don’t like:

    • As much as I wanted this to last, it started to smudge throughout the middle of the day. I has semi raccoon like eyes by the end of the day. (You can still make this work by patting on some black eyeshadow on your eyeliner to make sure it stays in place though! :) )

    Swatches
    Final thoughts
    This product had three claims: new improved formula, more intense, upto 36 hours lasting, smudgeproof and waterproof.  Although this product started bleeding out after a couple of hours after use and in effect, did not last me 36 hours, this product was still a hit for me. Its formula was indeed better, it had excellent pigmentation, and it was such a dream to apply. The bleeding, which was my only problem about this eyeliner could be easily solved by setting it with a black eyeshadow or applying an eyeshadow primer beforehand. This is a drugstore gem and I’m so glad that I found it. <3<3
    what’s your drug store gem? :)

    xoxo,

     

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    Beauty, Reviews

    Review: Bahama Mama by the Balm

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    Hi guys!

    I’m back with another review on a bronzer called Bahama Mama by the Balm. My favorite bronzer, NARS Laguna broke when I dropped it during one of my makeup gig. <////3 So I brought out a new bronzer from my stash of unused makeup! It was a gift from my uncle and his wife on my 18th birthday (thanks auntie Javi and uncle sean! :) ).

    Product

    The product is a magnetic compact made out of cardboard and is encased in another cardboard with the same print and design of the actual product. You simply slide out the compact out of the thin cardboard case. The design is so lovely! The Balm always comes out with products with the prettiest designs! :)

    What I Love

    The bronzer is matte bronzer which I LOOOVE. It has an ever so subtle sheen to it but has no chunky shimmer whatsoever which is something I look for in my bronzers. Shimmery bronzers tend to not be able to do the job of contouring. This is because the shimmer further enhances the part that you want to hide via contouring.  It doesn’t look orangey when applied as well. It suits my skin tone nicely. :) The product is very finely milled and you can see that it really has excellent quality and is really easy to blend. I was very loyal to my Nars Laguna bronzer but this Bahama Mama bronzer by The Balm is soo good that I don’t feel so bad about losing my Laguna bronzer. It’s everything I want in a bronzer. <3

    What I don’t like

    I have no complaints about this bronzer! :)

     

    Swatches

    the bronzer did not show up so much in the camaera but it really looks nice in person! <3

    Final Tips and Recommendations

    I likes using this with my flat top brush from Sonia Kashuk. I use the side to draw a line on my cheekbone then i use the flat top side of the brush to blend everything out.

    I really love this bronzer and I can totally see it becoming a regular product in my makeup kit. I highly recommend this to those who like using matte bronzers. For those who don’t, this is definitely worth a try!! :)

    whats’s your favorite bronzer? :)

    xoxo,

     

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    Beauty, Reviews

    Pink Me Up Nail and Dry Bar

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    I am ADDICTED to getting my nails done. I have them done at least twice a month. I normally go to my favorite nail spa in Greenhills but my mom recently bought two vouchers for nail pampering services at the Pink Me Up Nail and Dry Bar located at Shaw boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

    The Nail and Dry Bar is located in a building and I had to walk through a series of hallways to reach the nail spa. Good thing is there were signs at each corner that guided me to the nail spa. ;)

    I am VERY fond of the color pink and my eyes were delighted to see such a well designed place! The room had just the right amount of pink and gray to balance out each other. The beautiful couches made me feel like a princess! :)

    Procedure

    My voucher was inclusive of a foot spa, pedicure, hand spa and manicure. I had two people working on me simultaneously. My feet were soaked in water. Next, my nail technician gently scrubbed my feet then  a foot mask was lavishly applied from my ankles to my knees. It smelled sooo good! The smell reminded me of grapes. <3 My feet were wrapped in cling wrap for a good 10 minutes and then my legs and feet were rinsed. The nail technician then applied a “cleanser” and lastly used oil to massage my briefly. Simultaneously, my nails were cleaned by another technician. The same procedure for the foot spa was done for my hand spa. After this, my cuticles were cleaned and my nail technician applied my polish of choice. I wanted to try out their caviar nails (40 pesos/nail) so another technician had to work on applying nail polish + caviar beads on my fingers.

    This area is for the dry bar. :)

    What I Loved:

    • The overall ambience of the place was just lovely. I have to say that they have really excellent interiors.
    • I was most excited about the caviar nails! They had a huuge selection of beads (I forgot to take a photo. </3)
    • The couches were very comfortable.
    • The magazine selection is wide and updated. (HUGE FACTOR FOR ME. ;) )
    • The nail technician who worked on my foot spa, pedicure and hand spa was well skilled.
    • Their polish selection is decent. Plus points for them being high-end polishes. :)
    • The technicians looked sleek and professional in their uniforms.
    • I experienced some new thing that i normally don’t experience with their foot spa treatment which was interesting. The “cleansing” liquid that they used right after the mask was something new and I appreciate it. :)
    • My skin and nails felt refreshed and pampered after the treatments. :)

    Observations/suggestions:

    • This is merely a suggestion. The place is fully airconditioned and when various masks are applied to the body, it may get really cold. I was freezing cold and I had to ask for a towel. The towel wasn’t big enough but I can let it slide. It would just be better for the overall experience if they  can provide scarves for each customer to use when they visit. :)
    • contrary to the nail technician who worked on my feet, the nail technician who worked on my fingers wasn’t very skilled. She almost cut through my skin with the nail cutter when she was cutting my nails. She was in a hurry. It’s a good thing that I felt it when she was about to cut through my skin and I was able to stop her.
    • I was checking out write-ups about the salon just to see if their service is consistent. I found out that the nail technicians wear portable flashlights around their head for better lighting and noticed that my technicians weren’t wearing any.
    • I also found out that 2 steps were missing from my foot spa: foot mist and “blush”.
    • Lastly, the couches had really tough pillows and it was hard for my to find a comfortable spot. I told the technician about my minor complaint and she offered me a soft pillow which she got from one of the cabinets. I think it would be better if each couch had one soft pillow each. :)
    My Nails

    Final Thoughts

    I’m suuuper passionate about reviewing nail salons because I am a nail spa addict and this is why I took the time to write out my observations. I see that the nail salon is a relatively new salon which is why it’s understandable for it to have some areas for improvement.Overall, I still enjoyed my experience at the salon. My voucher is worth 400 pesos and I think the actual price of the treatments is at least 800 pesos. I think that it was a really good deal and I will definitely return to the nail bar. :)

     

    Where is your go-to nail spa? :)

     

    xoxo,

     

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    Pink Me Up Nail and Dry Bar

    Unit 2D Lee Gardens Condominium

    (above Security Bank and Starbucks Coffee)

    along Shaw Boulevard cor Lee St. (near Petron Gas Station)

    Mandaluyong, Philippines

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    Beauty, Reviews

    Review: Ddung Lipstick

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    Hi there!

    I’m back with another lipstick review! I have this insane addiction for lipsticks so please bear with me. ha ha. I’ve never actually heard of the brand Ddung  until I met my friend Mitch, my classmate at MUD. She brought some samples and I thought that it wouldn’t hurt to try one out.

    Product

    I chose a Ddung lipstick in the shade DL03. It comes in an adorable plastic packaging. Comapared to my Karadium Lipstick, the packaging of this lipstick feels lighter and a bit more prone to breakage. The shade I chose is a really light pink and it reminds me of the lipstick that was released by MAC feat. Nicki Minaj.

    What I Love

    I’m a pink lippie kind of girl and I have a wide variety of pink lipstick shades. I don’t think I have a shade similar to this yet which is why this is the lipstick that I wanted to get. I really like how unique the color is! It is very pigmented and is easy to apply. It lasted around 4 hours on me. :)

    What I don’t like

    It feels likes a matte shade which is why it is a bit drying on me. I have dry lips so the lines on my lips were slightly emphasized when I applied the lipstick. It’s not something I hate. It’s just something that I observed. I also am not very fond of the packaging. It’s not much of an issue with me though.

    Swatches

     

    Final Thoughts and Recommendations

    I’m so happy to be able to add another lipstick that I like to my growing arsenal of lipsticks! I like this lipstick overall and I think it’s very affordable as well! I’d probably purchase some more colors in other shades. ;) To grab your own Ddun or Karadium lipstick, go here!

    That’s it for now! what do you guys think?

    xoxo,

     

     

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    Beauty, Reviews

    Bench Fix Salon by Alex Carbonell

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    I had the opportunity to let Mr. Alex Carbonell touch my hair back when I was in high school. I remember fondly how the whole experience was a stress-free experience.

    I’ve had my fair share of bad haircuts which is why I think I always get anxious when I get a haircut. I guess it’s because I often get attached to my hair and I always say that I’ll be embracing change right before I get the haircut. But I almost always feel bad right after my haircuts. *yikes*

    I considered some salons for my new haircut and color because I honestly could not recall the last time I had my hair cut. I remember Sir Alex asking me if I wanted to get a dye job then but I had virgin hair then so I refused the offer. Now that I’m all grown up and addicted to getting my hair colored, I decided that maybe it was time to revisit Bench Fix by Alex Carbonell salon. I did my research as always and found out that sir Alex is an expert in doing makeovers and hair coloring as well. At the end of my research, I knew that going with sir Alex was a fool proof way to make sure my hair would be in good hands.

    A strong sense of familiarity hit me as I entered their branch in Greenbelt 5. Everything looked the same except for some minor changes in the colors of the interiors. I was led to my chair and after a few minutes, Sir Alex sat on the chair beside me as if we were girlfriends and asked me about my concerns. Despite that fact that he’s made a name for himself in the beauty industry, he made me feel so comfortable talking to him. I told him some of my concerns. His first comment about my hair was that it was a bit to “warm”. He suggested that I could “cool” it down with a “matte” hair color with a dark blonde/light bron shade. He then showed me some examples and I immediately agreed.

    After he cut my hair, I kind of got stunned at the sight of my new bangs. I did say earlier that I have some attachment issues to my hair so I asked about his thoughts and just having my hair color retouched. That way, I could keep a part of my old hair. He thought that it wasn’t a bad idea so he instructed his junior stylist to mix the colors for me. I had a total of three people who worked on my hair. Sir Alex for the haircut, his junior stylist for my color, and a shampoo-ist (haha i don’t know what the right term is).

    What I Love:

    The whole experience was really relaxing and at one point, I was falling alseep and my head kept on moving so my stylist offered me ice coffee. haha! The shampoo-ist massaged my hair for quite sometime while she was rinsing it.  I also love how they only charged me for the hair coloring service despite the fact that they had to mix some colors to get my shade right. Sir alex went back to me after my hair was rinsed and my hair was blow dried and inspected everything. I also like how professional everyone was in the salon. The stylist assigned to me ligned up some products in front of me but never pushed me to buy any of them. I looked to the customer beside and noticed that the stylist only told her about the hair products when she asked the stylist about them. I really admire their system because no one likes to be pushed to spend tons of money on hair products. I LOVE how my hair looked so much healthier and vibrant after the cut and color. Sir Alex even said that I looked liked I had highlights and I agree!

    What I don’t like:

    This isn’t something that I hated but I always enjoy reading the latest fashion magazines in salons and I wish they had more magazine selections to keep customers occupied while waiting for their treatments. :)

    Before and After

    huhu i super dread this photo because I look DEAD but I was too shy to ask for retakes. <//3

    The stylist offered to curl my hair and I gladly accepted. :)

    selfie at home. hehe.

    after my hair settled down. :)

    Final thoughts and Recommendations

    My blog followers might have noticed that I wrote this review differently than how I normally write my reviews. However, I felt like writing my whole experience in a narrative style of writing so that I could adequately describe my whole experience. I really enjoyed my entire experience and of course, I loved the outcome of my look. Aside from skill, I value professionalism and I feel like I saw both in all the people who handled my hair that day. The whole vibe of the salon is cleans and refreshing to the eyes too. :) I spent PHP1,200 for the hair cut and around 2,800 for the retouching of my hair color. Their services are bit on the pricey side but I feel like the outcome was worth every peso. I recommend the salon to people who want to make sure that their hair is in good hands. :)

     

    Studio Fix Salon by Alex Carbonell

    Level 4, Greenbelt 5
    +632 5013062 / +632 501 3064 / mobile +639275767698

     

    xoxo,

     

     

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    Beauty, Reviews

    Review: Karadium Lipstick Review

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    Hi guys!

    I’m so excited to write this post because today I’m going to share with you my latest lipstick discovery! Those who have been following my blog know that I kind of have a lipstick obsession! I just feel like a girl can’t have enough lipsticks!

    I found out that one of my class mates in MUD (make-up designory Manila) distributes various korean cosmetics in Cebu. She carries the brands Karadium and Ddung for her lipsticks. I haven’t heard of both of those brands so I purchased 1 shade from each brand. She described Karadium lipsticks to be super luxurious lipsticks. Ddung, on the other hand, would be a good choice if you’re looking for fun and youthful shades.

     Packaging

    I’m not so sure about the actual design of the drawing and logo on the lipstick case but I like how the lipstick is enclosed in a smooth casing. I’m not entirely sure if the casing is made out of plastic. It reminds me of metal but it’s probably be made out of high quality plastic. The bottom line is the casing seems strong and sturdy. I also like that I can use the case as mirror because I can see my reflection on the case quite clearly. This is perfect especially when I’m on the go and I have no mirror with me.

    What I Love:

     I think it’s quite obvious how much I like my pink lipsticks! I’m so happy to have added another pink lippie in my collection. I chose this shade because it looks like a plum-my pink and I don’t think I have a shade similar to this yet.

    I got the shade in 206.

    My friend said that these lipstick feel extremely luxurious on the lips and TRUE ENOUGH, they DO feel sooo luxurious on my lips! The apply like butter on my lips and they are incredibly moisturizing. The lipstick also has an excellent color pay off. This lipstick feels like a lipstick AND lipgloss in one product!

    What I don’t like:

    There isn’t much to dislike about this product. I just think that it could have a better print design on the lipstick case. The product itself deserves a nicer packaging. :)

    When worn:

    emote kung emote. CAN YOU SEE HOW SHINY MY LIPS LOOK?! I didn’t even put any lipgloss on!! THIS STUFF IS AMAAAZING.

    Final Thoughts:

    I was surprised that I did not see a lot of write-ups about Karadium products when I checked it out in the internet because this product is really worth knowing. :) It costs less than 500 pesos but its performance is up to par with some high-end lipsticks that I know of. I really love this lippie and I’ll probably buy more of this in different shades in the future. :) This is soo perfect for me because I have dry lips. We’re a match made in heaven! <3 You may purchase this lippie here!

    xoxo,

     

     

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    Beauty, Reviews

    Revlon Photoready Cream Blush

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    For some reason, I don’t own a lot of cream blushes. I’ve been wanting to buy the cream blush from MUF but I had a hard time using it when I swatched it because I didn’t know that you need a really small amount of product to make the product work. I’ll probably give it another try and purchase it some time! I was in the states when I purchased this Revlon cream blush influshed rougissant 200 and the bright pink color just caught my eye. I wasn’t able to hear a lot of reviews about this and bought it out of a whim.

    What I Love:

    There’s a decent amount of product in the pot and you need only a few product to get a nice color pay-off. The packaging seems sturdy and not prone to breakage. The blush gave me a nice natural flush and it reminded me of the flush that I normally get from cheek tints. The colors isn’t as scary as it look from the pot because the color from the pot gets toned down after application.

    What I don’t like:

    The packaging isn’t very sanitary because it come in a pot. Also, the formula of the blush isn’t as creamy as I would want it to be. The fact that the shade gets toned down after application could also be a bit of a downside for me because the pigmentation and color pay-off could use more intensity.

    On Me:

    *sorry for the million selfies heheeh

    Final Thoughts and Recommendations

    • you may use your fingers or a stipling brush to apply this on the temples of your cheeks
    • be sure to blend carefully
    • this could work both for women with fair skin and women who are tan

    Overall, this blush isn’t a total waste of money. I really like how it shows up on my skin but it can work on some improvements such as it’s formulation and pigmentation. I’d still use it everyday though because it gives me really nice rosy cheeks. :)

    xoxo,

     

     

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