Switching... Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel -Skincare Diary

I know I raved about Philosophy's Purity made simple in a post before. I did love it but I decided to switch to another product just because I'm a girl and I can be fickle like that. :p

YAY for finishing a product! This rarely happens to me too. I tend to switch from a product to another one unless I completely love it. 

The bottle is now empty. x) This was taken last week.

As some of you may know I have been saving money because I wanted to buy a new phone. So when I ran out of Philosophy's Purity made simple I tried to search for a cheaper alternative and I found this...

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel

Our refreshing, non-foaming gel washes away make-up and surface debris, leaving skin clean and healthy without leaving any residue.  Rejuvenates dull skin with Alpha Hydroxy Acid by breaking down the buildup of dead skin cells that cause blackheads and pimples.  

For all skin types. 

INGREDIENTS:

Deionized Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Papaya (Carica Papaya Fruit) Extract, Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis Fruit) Extract, Monomide, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben.

I like the dispenser because I get to control the amount I want to dispense.

It is minty green and smells kind of familiar but I cannot quite describe the scent. It's nothing annoying but kind of reminds me of other beauty products I have previously used. 

I purchased this product from Rustan's Makati. 

Initial thoughts on the product:

- Feels a bit slippery like a lotion but isn't heavy on the skin.

- Doesn't foam up or lather like Philosophy's Purity made simple.

- A little goes a long way.

- Does not remove all traces of makeup. :P 

- Costs around 700Php++ definitely cheaper than my previous facial cleanser.

- Has not broken me out yet. (We'll see with prolonged use.)

- Did not dry out my skin.

- Smells familiar like some beauty product I previously used although I cannot describe the scent.

- I like the packaging and it does not spill the product nor does it dispenses an unnecessary amount.

I am sort of liking this product because it seems to do a good job and seems more affordable. 

Will let everyone know if this works, just need to test it some more. =)

Bobbi Brown - Bye bye, Dark Circles (Saying goodbye has never felt so good!)

I was given the opportunity to attend my first blogger event! YAAAYYYY!!!! Thanks to Charles Angel for inviting me. :3

I have been an insomniac for as long as I can remember. Thankfully, I do not have the worse eye bags and dark circles which I will attribute to genes. However I realize that I am growing old - I cannot help but get conscious of my appearance. Usually, I just apply foundation on and skip the concealer but I learned that a corrector and a concealer is a must in our makeup routines because it makes the face brighter and more fresh! 

The ever gorgeous Charles Angel!

Owell of Bobbi Brown moisturized my face with Bobbi Brown's Hydrating Line. 

Then proceeded to apply the following products:

Corrector: in Peach

Concealer: Warm Beige

Foundation: Oil Free Even Finish in Warm Beige

Powder: Sheer Finish Loose in Warm Beige

Cheeks: Pot Rouge in Powder Pink

Lips: Pot Rouge in Powder Pink

Patting on the concealer. :)

Done! :)

While I may not be the best person to ask whether an under eye corrector and concealer works, I can attest that the concealer that was applied under my eyes made my face brighter! :3 I also like the fact that it's easy to apply and the consistency of the products were creamy and can be applied using the ring finger.

Let's get this straight girls, should you choose to apply a concealer with your fingers use the ring finger because it has the lightest pressure among our fingers. You want to apply the concealer on, not rub it off. Hence, a patting motion is the best way to go.

Kai Vinson of Makeup Artist & Trainer of Bobbi Brown New York.

Kai answering our questions and giving us tips.

Kai talked about Bobbi Brown. He said she was very hands on with their products and that she wouldn't release anything if it did not meet her standards. He also said Bobbi wanted normal girls to be able to apply makeup the way professional makeup artists do, that's why they have products that are fool proof and are very easy to work with! 

EG: Their pot rouge can be used on the lips and cheek. 

He also told us that their BB cream was sold out! That it has 3 different colors and caters to women with darker skin tones. :)

Kai is very nice and was eager to answer our questions. He said that he likes the food here, and that he was surprised to find out that our magazines were in English. It was really a fun learning experience! :)

He also gave us some advice on makeup application. Some of the tips he gave us are the following:

- If you are attending an important event lessen the intake of salty and sweet food. Also drink lots of water. Your skin will look better and you will become more radiant.

- The best way to apply concealer in our country is with a brush because the weather is so humid.

- Dark under eyes? Apply a tea bag or a cucumber on the area before you take a shower.

- Wear a bright lipstick when you're in a hurry so that no one will notice the rest of your face is bare.

I look fat in this picture. :] Hihi~

Kai with Charles.

Me with Lady E. =)

Mona Borromeo, Manager of Bobbi Brown also handed all of us a wonderful palette as a parting gift!

Bobbi Brown's Classic Evening Palette

Back.

The colors are wearable and great for everyday use. ;)

swatches.

INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE PALETTE:

- I like the blush "Desert Rose" very much! It's such a pretty color and is very pigmented. It also applies smoothly. :3 

- Navajo is a cream and can be used for highlighting. It is matte and does not have sparkles/glitters.

- Flint is a matte taupe and is a good base for eye makeup.

- Black Plum is such a gorgeous eyeshadow with shimmers and I definitely love how creamy and pigmented it is! (I always gravitate towards shimmery eyeshadows anyway. :P)

Truth be told I have no Bobbi Brown makeup in my dresser. I have been honest with you, and regular readers might know that I have always been a sucker for pretty packaging and Bobbi Brown's packaging looks professional and sleek. Being the way I am, I have never really checked out their items before. Now, I realize that I need to pay their counter a visit soon! There's no turning back now - I really like their blush, pot rouge and concealer. :D

After the event I went to Rustan's, ended up at Guerlain's counter and picked these up:

Guerlain's Rachel was super nice and gave me a discount plus a purse for my purchase. :3 Will be showing the items next time with a proper review. 

Thank you so much for reading. :3

What's your favorite concealer?

NOTE: I stand at 5 fee 11 inches. Filipinos are generally known to be a short race so I guess I'm the odd one out. :)

REVIEW - Paul & Joe Summer 2010 Sahara Collection in 01 Caravan

Paul & Joe is a French-Japanese makeup brand that's more often than not raved about by Youtube gurus and bloggers. It is known for it's unique, cute packaging and the quality of its products. (If it's France + Japan, two well known centers for arts, fashion and beauty, how can one go wrong, right?) 

Paul & Joe Summer 2010 Sahara Collection 

From L-R 01 Caravan, 02 Sahara, 03 Morocco

Being the curious person I am, I thought I'd give it a try and picked up the shade 01 Caravan lipstick at Rustan's Makati last November.

The packaging is just sooo gorgeous!!! :3.

Sooo pretty right? x)

It's cool to the eyes and is not made of paper like other P&J lipsticks. 

Can you see the gold shimmers? :)

This in my book is MLBB - My Lips But Better shade. 

01 is a pink-coral, has gold shimmers and is kind of frost IMO.

It's finish is very sheer. 

- The product is very creamy and easily glides on as applied. I find that it is best to mix this with other lipsticks.

- It's a very pretty color on its own and can be built by applying several layers. 

- It is very moisturizing. This is the only lipstick I own that I don't feel the need to wear a lip balm prior to lipstick application. 

- It doesn't settle on fine lines unlike some lip products do. 

- I don't recall if it has a scent and I can't confirm because my nose is stuffed right now. But I don't  probably doesn't have one or is tolerable in case it does because I would have remembered if it did.

- The staying power is decent. One will find the need to re-apply every now and then.

- This doesn't stain my lips and can easily be removed. 

- The only downside to this product is the price which is not cheap. :) And I think it's only available at Rustan's, Makati.

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xxx,

Sugar

Great gifts come in Purple!

Hi everyone! Have you heard about Rustan's purple card?

The purple card is an electronic card by Stores Specialists, a company that handles luxury brands it enables the bearer to shop in stores.

I would say that it's more of a debit card than a credit card as it is pre-loaded by the giver with denominations that range from 1,000Php to P10,000Php.

Thanks to my father I got 2 for Christmas. xD

Yay!!! 

It comes with a detailed brochure/guide where you can use the card.

I put a black square on the card number for privacy. :)

(There is no telling what some weirdos out there might do.)

I actually have no idea how much mine have as I have not gone shopping yet. :/

Below is the list of stores where it can be used:

Hello fashionistas! I'm sure you want one too. x)

More info:

My thoughts:

I have been sick since new year and haven't ventured to Rustan's just yet. I wonder if I can use the card to purchase makeup? Hmmm... It would be great if I could! I really like that thought mwahahaha! Pammy should get one too if that's the case. x) I mean, get a free one from Rustan's LOL! :) 

If I can't use it to purchase makeup then I will probably making a trip to Lush and the other SSI stores. :) It's not so bad.. I still say the Purple card rocks!!!

Btw, Pammy said Guerlain  is on sale up to January 31. Must get well and pay them a visit. 

xxx,

Sugar