Love Package from Bijin Blair + New iPhone4 cases

One of the greatest thing about having a blog is being to able to meet wonderful and lovely people from all over the world. Last January Blair told me she would want to send me some items, so I readily agreed as I thought she would only send me some masks. The parcel took some time to get here and we were both getting worried that it could have been lost in transit.  

I was surprised when I opened the parcel haha!xD There were just so many goodies inside. I was overwhelmed and I felt loved. Thank you so much, Blair! I cannot wait to use everything!

VOV Daily Fresh mini wash off pack in Volcanic Pack, Green tea Collagen Pack, Apple AHA Peeling Gel and My Beauty Diary Earl Grey Tea & Macaron Sheet Mask. 

Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1, Lavshuca Eye Color Select in BR-2,  Etude House Petit Darling in PK004 and PK008.

L-R: Sephora Flasy Liner waterproof in 10 deep black, Canmake Nudy Glow in 04 Sugar Milk Tea and Lip Smacker Julius' Coconut Cream.

Maxim Stick  menu (Caffe Latte)

Again, thank you so much hun! I will use and take care of everything. I love, love Lavshuca already! Hahaha! :3 Shall do a FOTD with these as soon as the big pimple on my cheek goes away.

Please don't forget to visit Blair's blog. She does amazing reviews and has the prettiest swatches and pictures!

Sorry for the long post.

Anyway, since one of my Stitch iPhone case was torn off I decided to buy another case. However, I couldn't decide between the Pink and Blue case so I just ordered both. 

^says that it shouldn't be cleaned with alcohol, chemical or bleach as the color may fade. 

Yes, these cases are so cute and sturdy because these are hard cases. Why, I can even hit someone in the head with it and I'm sure I'll end up with a physical injuries case filed against me. :P

The ears can be folded so it can be stored. Of course the ears will get in the way of everything if they can't be folded haha! x)

Just press Stitch's bangs or hair and his ears will pop out again.

I dedicate this last picture to Charles and Aya.

Mid-week! I hope all your weeks are going well. :3

A Haul of All Sorts.. (again!!)

Hello everyone! :) I haven't bought makeup for about a month so I ended up hauling different products again. I have an excuse for buying everything you'll see below. I cannot wait to try everything out! 

From Left to Right: Etude House Aloha V-Line Slim Maker in #01 Sun Gold/ Wood Brown, Majolica Majorca Lash Kind in BK999, L'Oreal White Perfect Micro Vibration 3 in 1 Eye Brightener, BECCA Beach Tint in Raspberry, BECCA Luminous Skin Colour in Porcelain and BECCA Resurfacing Primer. 

My super cute Stitch iPhone Case, The Body Shop Organic Cotton Rounds, Hello Kitty iPhone case and The Body Shop Refining Bath Lily.

I also won Argie's Neutrogena Fine Fairness BB Cream giveaway. :) YAY! So excited to try a BB cream. Argie also sent me a hand written note. It's so CUTE!!! :3

Thank you so much Argie and Neutrogena. 

Please let me know if you wish to see a review of any of the items above.

What item/s did you buy recently?

Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner - Skincare diary

I often complain about my large pores. As such, anything that promises to reduce the size of my pores entices me to pick the product up before someone gets the bright idea of hording everything away.

Product Claims:

1. Deep cleanses pores. 

2. Maintain ph 4.5 +1

3. Control a large amount of the sebum 

4. Minimize appearance of pores 

5. Refine the skin tones

6. Keep the elasticity of pores 

7. Moisturize inside and outside of skin

How can anyone say no to all of those, right? Plus, the packaging is super cute and convenient to use!

Ok, ok, so the truth is the bottle was what attracted me to the product. It's just so easy to use and there is  minimal to no product wastage at all! 

The price is around 700++Php - it may seem expensive, there is actually a lot of product inside the bottle; plus, you only need 2 pumps/press each time you use it so I suppose it will last for quite a while.

Directions:

1. Get a cotton pad or cotton ball.

2. Press the pump dispenser twice.

3. Apply on the face and neck as you would with your other toners.

For more information on enlarged pores, please visit DERMAdoctor.com I think their article is very helpful to those who might be suffering the same problem that I have.

I honestly don't think there's any product on the market that would make my large pores disappear as it is not just possible. This, however does help in making my pores less visible. It does not sting like some toners/astringents do but helps take off excess makeup and dirt at night. It does make my skin seem a bit healthier and brighter once used; for it keeps my oily skin at bay. The effect may last for a few hours or so, I just hope that it will be beneficial to my skin in the long run. 

Etude House does have many great products for a fraction of the cost. As much as I like to invest in skincare products, I am grateful for alternatives that won't hurt my wallet as much. If you are looking for a good toner, do try this one out. :) 

I just got home from a hearing. LOL! I hope everyone is doing well. :) 

Etude House - Nymph AURA Volumer in #1 Pure Nymph Aura

Nymph AURA Volumer in #1 Pure Nymph Aura

Description from Etude House: Multi Cream maximizing the radiance and dewy glow on skin, completing flawless skin with plumped up moisture. 

- Comes in a white plastic bottle with a very cute cap.

- The pump is convinient and easy to use. Be wary that it might dispense too much if pressed too hard - Press gently to avoid wasting the product!

I will mix it with Paul & Joe's Protective Fluid Foundation N in 30.

Directions: Mix with 1 drop/part with every 2 drops of foundation or BB cream.

You may add more or less according to your preference. I will be using more since I want everyone to see the effect/look it produces. 

Using this stippling brush from the Etude House, I will combine and mix the products. You may use your hand or a sponge.

Mix well then Apply and distribute evenly on skin.

Color: Peach but goes on translucent. 

It is more subtle - looks more natural than #2. I would recommend girls with medium to darker skin tones choose this because it won't give a chalky or ashy finish and would blend perfectly on your skin.

Texture: The texture surprised me. It is gel-like and sticky. It feels like a thick lip gloss and tends to just sit on top of the skin for a while. Once it settles it will make the skin smoother.

Scent: Has a very faint scent which smells like Etude House's other skincare products.

Finish: Gives a dewy finish. 

- at first it may resemble the look you will get when you apply Vicks/petroleum jelly over your skin, but once it settles,  it will start to look more natural and dewy. (Think you just stepped out the shower and your skin is still moist.)

Lasting Power: The shine/shimmer it gives will last around 3 hours on me since I have very oily skin. For those with normal or dry skin it might last a bit longer.

Price: Around 700++Php

Swatch. 

Paul & Joe's Protective Fluid + Nymph Aura Volumer

It can also be used as a highlighter or layered with other products.

Swatch on bare skin.

Worn over Paul & Joe Moisturizing Compact Foundation in #30.

There's a long list of foundations and bb creams that claim to give a dewy finish. I suppose most ladies like me want a luminous and glowing finish that would make skin appear healthier. As such, I was really looking forward to trying this product and I actually wanted to like it but I'm still on the fence with it right now. Perhaps my mind will change after I get used to the texture which I'm not really very fond of. 

I prefer the Etude House's method of mixing it with a bb cream or a foundation rather than using it as a highlight over those products. It does take quite a while for the skin to absorb the product if used as a highlighter.

Note that it tends to highlight skin imperfections such as large pores; after all, it is somewhat of a highlighter that can be used together with a makeup base. The glow or shimmer it produces is quite different from that which I am used to as it makes the skin look moist and wet. I would say that this is perfect for countries with colder weather as it can give the impression of nice-glowing skin without glitters! Unlike other Korean highlighters which I have tried in the past, the shimmers of the Nymph Aura Volumer are hardly visible and will just cast a luminous appearance once applied.

It's not really a bad deal for the price. Especially if you are just starting out or experimenting with highlighters. It is far better than other highlighters on the market but I have tried better ones. But then again, this product isn't being advertised as a highlighter, it supposed to be something a bit different. Maybe the novelty will be the selling point of the item. 

I would like to point out though that I don't regret the purchase and think that I shall be using more of the product when I'll be indoors in an air-conditioned room. :) 

Etude House AC Red Spot Balm

"Formulated with Madecassoside (skin healing agent), Salicylic Acid and Hinoki Cypress extracts, AC Clinic Red Spot Balm heals, clarifies and soothes facial trouble spots, Specialized target heals and brightens blemishes with a specialized formula."

Comes in a jar that I am not a fan of. I find that products that come in a jar can be prone to contamination and the peculiar shape of this one makes getting the product a bit hard.

I don't have the original spatula with me so I use cotton buds to apply the product. 

DIRECTIONS: Apply the balm directly to the acne, spot, pimple or blemishes.

CONSISTENCY: Has a balm like consistency and can be hard to wash off in the morning. I wouldn't recommend applying this under makeup as it might form into clumps then flake off.

SCENT: Has a medicated scent (which reminds me of old people).

Overall, I'm not crazy about this product. This does lessen the redness and swelling of blemishes but I find that the pimple just stays there and dries up after a while. When I say a while it might take a week or so for it to work so it's really not much of a difference from just leaving the pimple alone. What it does is make the pimple less visible.

I have read many good reviews on this product though. It just might be me or my skin condition that it didn't work with. My sister uses this and says it does dry up her pimple/s.

Product was sent to me by Locke a few months ago - Thank you sis! <3 But I'm guessing that this would be under 500Php. Not a bad buy if it'll work for your skin. :)


Do you also use spot treatments for pimple/s or do you prefer to just leave the pimple/s alone?

TONERS: Etude House Be Clear Skin Toner & Olay Oil Minimizing Toner - Skincare Diary

First off, this isn't a comparison post. I will be reviewing both toners because I am currently using both products. I use the Etude House Be Clear Skin Toner in the mornings because it feels light and doesn't sting, while I use the Olay Oil Minimizing Toner for night since I think it cleans more effectively. So I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. I do tend to keep a variety of products to suit my mood and needs.

Bought during the Etude House sale.

I don't remember how much it actually is but I think it was less than 500Php.

It has the paper mulberry extract, which makes the skin clean and transparent, and the patented ingredient of whitening beauty expenses composite containing natural vitaminsit removes dead skin cells with dark tone and wastes effectively and supplies plentiful moisture. So, it is a whitening functional skin lotion which makes the skin clean and fair. (Product description as provided in the bottle. It's good if you understood what it said because it seems rather vague to me. Believe me, I had nothing to do with it. LOL!)

Cute packaging for the win! As always Etude House products have the cutest packaging.

This is a glass bottle so it would be heavy to bring along with you if you are traveling but I don't mind at all because it's rather reminiscent of old product packaging which I personally like.

No product wastage. Definitely worth the money I paid for it. ;)

The product comes out as a white liquid. It has a very nice scent to it.

PROS:

- Did not break me out.

- Inexpensive.

- Cute packaging! :3

- Love the scent of this product.

I can't say that it whitens skin because I did not notice any difference on my skin but I do like it for toning my face in the morning. It smells nice and does a great job for that purpose, IMO.

Now on to the other toner that I use for night time:

Bottle says, "Tones by removing dirt, oil and make-up without stripping skin's essential moisture. Dermatologist tested."

Very affordable! :) It also comes with a lot of product.

I did not have high hopes for this, yet I was clearly proven wrong because it does remove all the traces of dirt and makeup on my skin after a long day! It beats other toners I have tried and believe me I tried a lot. 

It has a cooling sensation on the skin which I like. It also smells very nice. :3

My only gripe about this product is this.

I don't want to waste such a good product, so I hope that they do something about this and put a stopper or something like most companies do. 

PROS:

- Cleans well and removes all traces of dirt and makeup.

- Did not break me out.

- Affordable.

- Smells nice.

- I love the cooling sensation it has. 

One more time! See how big the opening is? It almost looks like a shampoo bottle haha! x)

I transferred the product into another bottle because I kept pouring so much into a cotton pad every time I used it. With that said, I still like both toners and will be sticking to both because they both don't make Mr. Piggie Bank cry.

What's your favorite toner? :3 Share!

Etude House - Aqua Cure Facial Mist III (Vitamin Water)

Hi everyone! I'm sorry for the lack of recent updates. I actually have too many products to review but so little time to post nowadays. :/ Can any of you lovely ones relate to my dilemma? LOL! xD

The summer heat in Manila is scorching hot, not in a good way because a few minutes outside makes me sweaty. It makes me feel so dirty and grimey. -o-

I was walking around Manila the other day because I needed to fix some papers. I went to the University of Santo Tomas and was walking around Recto and the Malacanang Area. At around 4pm my eyesight was blocking out and I was sweating!!! I called my sister to complain. :P I heard there were people dying from heat stroke in the Philippines the other day. That kind of scared me.. :/ I also thought about the condition of my skin in the weather we were having sooo....

I originally intended to pick up the Max Fix Plus and I still intend to this weekend so I can compare the two products. I don't use this on top of my makeup or use it to moisten my brush like Marge does.

I just use it to refresh my face before I leave the house and in the middle of the day or whenever I feel like I want to.

The bottle was full when I got it but I already used it. ^-^ 

I just wanted to show everyone what the product looked like in its original packaging.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Skin Care formulated with Alaskan Glacial Mineral Water to supply cooling moisture and essential skin nourishment Facial moisture spray supplies anti-inflammatory efficacy, minerals and cool sensation to skin.

Ok... I can't read Korean so let's pretend that this side has the directions. :p

DIRECTIONS: Hold bottle 15-20cm distance from face when spraying, Spray mist over facial surface to supply moisture and refreshment to skin.

There are 3 variants but I chose Vitamin Water because the scent reminds me of grapefruit & pomelos! :3

TIPS:

- I use mine after my sunblock has settled on my skin. :3 I just spray 3 spritz. Errmmm I tend to get carried away and spray 5 at certain times just because I love the scent but you shouldn't especially if you intend to use it over or under makeup.

- I think this can be used with makeup although I haven't because I don't want to wear makeup in the sweltering heat nowadays.

- I carry mine wherever I go to instantly give my skin a boost whenever I feel re-hydrated. :)

- Transfer it to a smaller atomizer if you think the bottle is too big to carry around.

PROS:

- Perfect & quick way to refresh the face and re-hydrate skin without having to wash the face. =)

- The mist is very finer than Juice Beauty's Hydrating Mist.

- The scent is so refreshing! It's not overwhelming and dissipates after a minute or so of application.

- Affordable! This costs Php 448 or is about or under $10.

- Bottle is sturdy and is not likely to melt or get deformed despite the summer heat. :P

CONS:

- Can't think of any except it may be hard to get outside Asia.

I am so addicted to this product! <3 I keep spraying it on my face hahaha! =))

My cousin visited us the other day and brought his 11 month old daughter.

She is too fluffy! I love her to bits. <3

She is also smart. She knows how to pose for the camera. Whenever she sees a camera she poses and holds her pose hahahaha! Isn't she adorable?

Random thought - This is actually the first time me and my brother Enrico felt that we are dark skinned. :P Baby Bela is so fair LOL! =))

Etude House - Miss Tangerine Review & giveaway winnings from Cathy's blog

Hi everyone! I feel compelled to post LOL! Sorry if I haven't been replying to comments & commenting back on your blogs. I have just been super stressed and busy due to my finals. I promise to be a better blogger once my exams are through. ^_^

This is just going to be a quick update and review. =)

Etude House Philippines launched the Miss Tangerine Line last March 15 and I picked up 2 products just because I was super stressed and happened to be in the mall. =P

Etude House Miss Tangerine Cream Choux Blusher No. 2 Miss Peach

swatch

This is such a lovely Peach color! Definitely wearable and flattering on most skin tones.

PROS:

- Affordable. It's only around 300 pesos.

- Easy to blend.

- Flattering to most skin tones.

- Long lasting. =)

CONS:

- Can't think of any.

Miss Tangerine Soda Tint in Cranberries 

It looks so pretty doesn't it?

I think it smells like fresh berries. :3 I passed up on the Tangerine because it reminded me of Merthiolate. :/ 

taken with flash

Shake first before application.

Doe foot applicator makes application easier. =)

Swatch

PROS:

- Affordable.

- Long lasting.

- Easy to blend.

- Flattering to most skin tones.

- Portable - easy to bring with you anywhere. =)

- Perfect for summer.

CONS:

- Not for people who don't like stains.

- Has a weird taste.

A few months ago I won a giveaway from - Cathy's Beauty Blog

Please do visit her lovely blog. She's such a nice blogger!

I won the gorgeous lip balms and Cathy was gracious enough to include samples from Laneige, Missha & Banilla Co. I haven't tried ny Banilla Co. products before. =)

Thank you so much Cathy! I truly appreciate it and can't wait to try everything out. The lip balms smell so nice & their packaging is just soooooo cute! :3

I hope everyone is doing well. Did you pick up anything from Etude House's Miss Tangerine Line?