Depotting Frenzy with Wild Peach Cosmetics Palettes

Have you ever looked at your vanity and wondered how you managed to buy that many neutral eye palettes and you always end up using just one or two?

I have, and I didn't like it.

First, my answer was an obvious and resounding "Yes," and I just felt awful.  It meant that I have been buying way too much makeup and was not making the most out of my stash.

Second, I know I would keep buying more makeup and I have nowhere to put them.  I had a serious storage issue that I needed to address.

Just so you have an idea how a non-professional like me hoards makeup, here is a photo of my stash.  

I house all my face and eye makeup in an acrylic box like this:

It didn't take long after I got this acrylic box for me to fill it up with more palettes.  I knew I was in trouble.  I just don't have the space for another beauty box like this.  I had to do something.

So, in my quest for space-saving solutions (without undermining my makeup hoarding skills), the idea of depotting 19 eyeshadow palettes (6 NYX Runway, 4 Revlon, 4 Milani Eye Quads, 5 NYX Trios) and 6 Ellana single eyeshadows came to mind.

I knew I needed a magnetic palette to house my depotted eyeshadows, but I find the Z Palettes way too small and ehem, pricey, though I don't mind spending a bit more on the MAC ones.  But you see, my MAC Pro Palettes are reserved for my MAC eyeshadow pans.

Good thing I discovered these magnetic palettes from Wild Peach Cosmetics and I think they're just awesome!

I was so excited to depot that I forgot to take a photo of my palettes.  But judging by these photos, you will know that I did have a lot and most of which have barely been used.

I got 2 of the Pro Palettes from Wild Peach Cosmetics.  To maximize the space, I housed all the square and rectangular pans together...

... and put all the round pans here:

I also depotted my Maybelline baked eyeshadows.  They fit perfectly here!  Some of the rectangular ones that could not fit in the other palette is neatly housed in here too.

Why I love these palettes

I love how these palettes come with their own magnetic sticker sheet.  All you need to do is cut a piece of the magnetic sheet and stick it to the back of the pans.  This will help those pans that have less of a magnetic material adhere better to the palette.  But even without the sticker sheet, so long as your pans are made of metal or a magnetic alloy, they will adhere to these palettes and stay there until you pry them out.

The Wild Peach Palettes are very sturdy.  

The lid is also magnetic and will not budge during transport.  

The lid is made of transparent hard plastic so you can see all the pans.  This saves you the trouble of looking for the colours or pans you want to use.

Wild Peach Palettes are very versatile.  They also come in a wide array of designs so you can really choose the palette that will suit your needs and your personal style.

I ordered mine online at Wild Peach Cosmetics at Facebook.  

Stay pretty!

Review: Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

This discovery started about 3 years ago, when I was suffering from my worst bout with acne.  

In my quest to find a product that would complement my skincare routine, I found this--Mint Julep Masque by Queen Helene.

What is it for?

Mint Julep Masque is the original natural home treatment developed by a dermatologist that helps dry up acne, rinse away blackheads, absorb excess oil, and shrink enlarged pores.  After the masque is removed, your skin feels clean, tight, refreshed, and smooth.  People who have normal skin can also use this to supplement their usual skincare routine.  

On good days, I use this as a refreshing facial treatment to help relax tired facial muscles and ease tension lines on my face and neck.

How do you use it?

After cleansing your face and neck, apply generously like a mask.  Allow to dry for about 15 minutes.  Within minutes, it will dry up and harden, as it draws out impurities from your pores.  

Remove with warm water and a wash cloth.

This is how I apply the mask.  I try to avoid the soft area surrounding my eyes and lips.

The mask dries up after about 15 minutes or so.  This is how it looks like when it's all cakey and dried up.  

When it cracks up like this, you know that it's time to rinse it off.

What I love about it

All-natural.

Very economical, a little goes a long way.

It works.  It dries up the most stubborn of acne.  It also makes my skin feel nice and taut.  My pores appear smaller.  

The minty smell and cool sensation is very relaxing, I often fall asleep with this on.

Cons

Too bad, you can only find this at Healthy Options.  It retails for about P300.00.  I wish they carried they entire Queen Helene line.  But they only have this and the Mud Pack variant, which is very good for tightening loose facial skin.

For more info on this and other products, check out Queen Helene's site.

What's your favourite facial mask?

Stay pretty!

Hype Alert: The New Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms

I have a new fave!

I got 5 of the 10 colors of the new Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms.  These are Standout (205), Sultry (225), Unapologetic (210), Audacious (245), and Elusive (205).  Can you tell which shade is my favourite?

I have tried all of them and so far, I love how they glide on like butter.

I have been drooling over these babies since they were launched in North America last year.  So many bloggers are smitten by these Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms and I just couldn't help but see for myself what the hype is all about. 

I loved the Revlon Colorburst Stains but I am more drawn towards matte lipsticks.  I find matte textures very forgiving and versatile for work and casual outfits so these are just perfect-- too perfect that I got all 5 colors that suit me best.

Watch out for my review on these soon!

Stay pretty!

Haul: Aromatherapy the natural Pinoy way at Sesou

Since I discovered Giga products, I have been coming back to Sesou at Trinoma to get these wonderful aromatherapy soap bars and Messy Bessy products:

My work is super stressful.  In my hunt for products that would help me relax, I have discovered a new found love for anything Peppermint, Lavender, and Chamomile.  These scents calm and soothe my nerves.  They are also excellent in relaxing tense muscles and prepping the senses for deep slumber. 

Watch out for my reviews on these soon.

Stay pretty!

Bright Eyes Ahead!

Have you tried the Garnier Brightening Eye Roll On? 

I have tried using this before but never bothered doing review on it.  Will road test this one for the next 30 days.  Let's see what happens.

Stay pretty!

Revlon Photoready BB Cream: Finally! My BB Cream Match

I have never been a fan of BB Creams.  

Four years ago, when everyone was going gaga over Korean BB Creams, I jumped in the bandwagon and did my own hunt for the perfect BB Cream.  I thought BB Creams were the answer to my dilemma--I had problem skin but I wanted the look and coverage of a foundation.

Unfortunately, the trail went cold because none of the BB Creams I tried (trust me when I say I tried a lot!) worked for me.  Some turned grey the moment I applied it on my skin, while others left my skin greasy.  

I just could not find my BB Cream match.

Last year, I noticed that I had less breakouts but my skin was drier than usual.  I stopped using my powder foundations for a while because my skin was too flaky and powder only highlighted that.  So I opted to max out on my liquid foundations.  But the cold weather proved too strong for my dry skin.  Not even my liquid foundations could cover up the dryness underneath.

I was at Watson's when I saw the Revlon booth and decided to check it.  The SA noticed that I was not wearing makeup and I told her I was "taking care" of my dry skin and wearing makeup would only aggravate the situation.  She suggested I try Revlon's Photoready BB Cream.  I didn't want to let her down, so I let her do her magic on me.

At first, I was not sold on the idea.  I was afraid of spending good, hard-earned money on something that I knew at the back of my head, would not work for me.  So, I told the SA that I will have to think about it first.  I wanted to walk around the mall first and check if it would turn grey on me.  I have acidic skin, by the way.  Hence, the need to let the BB Cream steep.

So, I went out and walked and shopped and noticed that Revlon's BB Cream has not budged a wee bit on me.  My face did not look grey.  It was dewy and soft.  The dry feeling was gone.  I knew that this was the one for me.

I have been using it since--sometimes, as a base for my foundation, and most often, by itself.  I like to finish it off with Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Buff, and dot my cheeks with Etude House's Lip and Cheek Tint.  

Pros

Very moisturising, but works great for any skin type

Has SPF 30

Light and non-greasy

Great base for both liquid and powder foundation

Cons

Almost the same price as a full coverage foundation

Limited shades available for the Pinay skin tone

Verdict

8 out of 10.  Will definitely re-purchase this one.

This is me wearing my Revlon Photoready BB Cream.  I used BN Luxury Powder (Buff) to set.

Products Used:

Revlon Photoready BB Cream

Revlon Concealer

Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Buff

The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer as e/s

Maybelline gel liner in Black

Maybelline Lash Blast mascara

MAC Pink Swoon for my cheeks

NYX Xtreme Lip Creme in Bonfire

Smashbox Eyebrow Kit

I want to know your BB Cream/CC Cream story.  Please, do share!

Stay pretty!

January Favorites

Kung Hei Fat Choi to all of you!

Time flies!  

January went by just like that. So, before everyone starts posting their Valentine's Day looks, I'd like to share with you my faves for January.  

I found myself reaching for these daily and thought I could do a mini review for each as we go along and start a monthly post on products that I loved and/or hated (eureka moment!) for each month.

1.  Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh

I'm big on perfume. 

Like, seriously.  Any woman over the age of 18 should own at least a bottle or two of fragrance.

Thanks to my mother who taught me the importance of smelling fabulous, I tend to splurge on fragrance more than anything.  

And Daisy Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs is one of my absolute faves.  My Dad got me this one last year and I use it almost every day.  I love the floral-fruity top notes of Grapefruit, Raspberry, and Pear, combined with the glorious combination of Jasmine, Rose, and Apple blossom, and the lingering notes of musk, plum and cedar as it wears down.  

So feminine.  So flirty.  Brings out the girly girl in all of us.

2.  Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

The cheaper version of the Clinique Chubby Sticks.  

On colder months like December and January, my lips tend to dry out a bit.  

Aside from leaving the house with wet hair, I find chapped, dry lips a social suicide.  There is absolutely no excuse for it.  So when my lips are drier than usual, I go for something light and soothing like Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains.  (Whew!  That's a mouthful!)

Many have gone bonkers for this product and I am in on the hype.

These are minty and nice and very light.  They will leave your lips full and plump, you will feel like puckering up all the time.  Very pigmented too.  It's like Chapstick but with tons of colour!  At around P500 each, the price is unbeatable. 

3.  Revlon Colorstay Concealer

I use this as an under eye concealer.  Quite expensive though at P600.00 a pop.  But I find that this shade (Light) suits me better than my other Holy Grail of under eye concealers, which is Collection 2000's Concealer in Medium.  

Stays put even after more than 6 hours.  

Try not to put too much or you'll end up with a runny under eye.

4.  Revlon BB Cream 

Has anyone noticed how the weather has gotten extra cold this year?

My skin has and it has been flaking really bad since December.  

I had my doubts on this at first because my past BB Creams left me oilier than ever.  But when the nice SA at Revlon showed me that this is not the case for Revlon's, I went right ahead and bought it.

I use this alone or as a foundation base.  I am a NC25 and I got the Light Medium shade.  

Watch out for my full review on this soon.

5.  Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Blush

I saw this from a seller on Instagram and was enamoured by the tiny embossed hearts.  Unfortunately, we don't have Physicians Formula here in the Philippines and very few makeup re-sellers carry this.  

Again, back to the hearts and the packaging...It's so MAC but not quite.  

Once applied, you will notice that it gives off a scent reminiscent of Violets.  According to the Physicians Formula website, it contains "Euphoryl, happy plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress."

I have no idea what "environmental stress" is but one thing's for sure, I love this blush!  It's soft, pigmented and you can swirl your brush to get a unique combination of colours every time.

Best of all, it's hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic (won't cause break outs), paraben-free (all-natural), and dermatologist approved.

I got the shade Warm.  

For more info on this blush, check out Physician's Formula.

6.  Real Techniques Blush Brush

Make the most out of your blush with this awesome brush from Samantha Chapman.  

It's worth every buck.  

I use this to apply my MAC Sheertone blushes, which are, like the name says, sheer but very buildable without looking like you got tons of blush.  

Like all RT brushes, it comes with a sturdy handle and the ferrule is fused into the brush handle so the brush is one entire magic wand.  The ends are rubberised and can stand on its own on your vanity without falling over unlike other brushes that are rounded on the end.

7.  Giga Bath Botanics Aromatherapy Bath Bar in Peppermint

Gosh!  

This is like my Holy Grail of soaps--handcrafted, all-natural, Philippine-made.  

This surely beats the high end ones at Beauty Bar.  

It is very moisturising and the Peppermint will leave your skin with a bit of nice, refreshing zing.  It also has oatmeal which exfoliates and leaves your skin moisturised.  

Dirt cheap at P70.00 a pop.  

You can buy this at Sesou in Trinoma or Giga in Robinson's Magnolia.  

I would love to hear your thoughts on these products.

Stay pretty!

Skin Care Review: Garnier Oil Clear Self-Heating Sauna Mask

I was bored the other day and ended up going to the grocery to get a few household items and I came across this:

I am a sucker for facials and masks.  At only P70.00 for a pack, I decided to go ahead and give this a try. 

What it is:

Self-Heating Sauna Mask

"The formula generates a self-heating action on contact with the skin.  Specially developed with clay and zinc, it works to remove impurities and excess sebum to unclog pores and refine skin texture.  Your skin feels deeply cleansed and looks shine-free.  It feels purifies for up to 7 days."

How to apply

Apply gently on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin).  Leave for 3 minutes, then rinse off.  Suitable for the oily to combination skin.  Use once or twice every week. 

So, I went right ahead and applied it to my face.  

As you can see, I applied to my eyebrows.  I get zits there too.  Nasty, painful ones.  Didn't hurt to get that covered.

Verdict

10 out of 10 

It's cheap, easy to use, and it works.

I felt the results right away and the results do last for 7 days.

As soon as you put on the first swipe, you will feel a bit of a tingling sensation, followed by mild, tolerable heat from the product.  The sensation is very relaxing, so I could not help but leave it on for more than 3 minutes, contrary to the instructions on the label.  

After rinsing it off, my face felt smoother and oil-free.  I also noticed that most of my pores were smaller and my zits dried up a bit.  I would definitely keep using this.

It's Brush Cleaning Time

How often do you clean your makeup brushes?

I gotta admit I'm pretty lazy when it comes to cleaning my brushes.  So I only clean them every 2 weeks and I do so with the Parian Spirit Brush Cleaner.

Here are my Real Techniques (fave ones so far!) brushes being dried in open air after a good 5-minute soak in Parian Spirit.

Like it says in the bottle, I just soak my brushes in a glassful of the cleaning solution and swirl.  I let them sit in the solution for about 5 minutes or so to disinfect, before I air dry them.  So quick and easy!

Parian Spirit is quite expensive.  Prices vary depending on the size of the bottle.  I got mine from the Suesh counter in Trinoma.

If you're on a tight budget and have all the time in the world to really wash and rinse your brushes, you can always try the good ol' baby shampoo.  Dilute a spoonful of baby shampoo in water and swirl your brushes in the solution.  Leave to dry.

Stay pretty!

Naturactor Cover Face Concealer Review

I have problematic skin.  

Though I have managed to keep my acne at bay, there are days when they are just out of control and leave me looking like this:

Bad, right?

My dermatologist would tell me to stay away from makeup when I get severe breakouts like what I am having now.  But I feel like that's just like giving up.  And I feel worse without makeup.

I find that people with problematic skin like me recommend using BB creams to replace foundations during trying times like this.   But, for some reason, BB creams never worked for me.  Either they leave my skin oiler or gray.  Hence, I tend to avoid the BB Cream aisle. 

Just recently, I discovered Naturactor, a Japanese cosmetics company that manufactures the much-raved line of foundations and concealers used by celebrities.   

With daily client meetings and court appearances, I do not want to risk my reputation by looking so tired and acne-infested without makeup.

After reading the reviews about Naturactor by ecstatic beauty addicts like me and seeing photos of celebrities like Heart Evangelista and  who swear by the wonders of Naturactor, I went ahead and bought my first Naturactor Cover Face Concealer in Shade No. 140 from a seller over at Instagram.

Why are we crazy about this concealer?

I cannot stop using this stuff.  It's gentle enough to be used everyday-- whether you are having a good skin day or a bad one-- this concealer will do the trick.

The Naturactor Cover Face Concealer is formulated with Jojoba Oil, Mica, and Tocopherol (Vitamin E) that leave your skin looking better after every use.  This concealer does not clog my pores or feel heavy.  It does not contribute to more breakouts.  I find that this even dries out the new zits faster.  

I have to be honest though that at first, I was not used to the formulation.  It was a bit sheer for me and did not quite give me the coverage I needed.  I got disappointed there for a while, until a friend told me that she dabs Shade No. 171 first to even out the redness and blends in her Shade No. 140.  I was convinced and bought my own shade no. 171.

Naturactor Concealer Shade No. 171 is a concealer/corrector.  The greenish tint evens out the redness of acne, rosacea, broken blood vessels, and other skin problems.  In my case, it acts as a camouflage against the red tinge left by acne.

TIP:  If you use it alone without the normal concealer shades and blend with your foundation, you might end up with grayish spotty face.

So, here's how I use my Naturactor Cover Face Concealers: 

Steps 1 and 2:  Cleanse, tone, and moisturize.

Step 3:  Dab Shade No. 171 on the acne marks you want to conceal.  Dab with a light hand.  I use a concealer brush for this.

Step 4:  Using the same concealer brush,  blend out Shade No. 171.

Step 5:  Top Shade No. 171 with your your normal concealer shade (Shade No. 140 in this case).

Step 6:  Blend in to blur out harsh lines.

Step 7:  Apply your favorite foundation.  I use NYX Stay Matte Not Flat with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

Step 8:  Blend in foundation.  Be careful not to lose your concealer in the process.

Step 9:  Smile!  Life is too short not to. 

With the right kind of concealer, ladies like me who suffer from bad acne breakouts can still go out there and look radiant.  This is my FOTD using the Naturactor Concealer:

Face

Naturactor Concealer in Shade Nos. 140 and 171

Collection 2000 concealer in Light for under eye area

Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Buff to set under eye concealer

NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Liquid Foundation in No. 3

Physician's Formula Happy Booster Blush in Natural

Eyes

UDPP

NYX Runway Palette in Champagne and Caviar

Maybelline Crayonbrow in Brown

Maybelline Megalast Mascara

Lips

NYX Lipstick in Tea Rose applied with a light hand

Stay pretty, ladies! 

Happy New Year!

Here's to another great year for us, ladies!  Looking forward to a fab 2014! 

Cheers!