Missing the Sun!

It's that time of the year again in my country: Typhoon season. We haven't had a sunny day in weeks and it's really starting to get me down. Even though I generally prefer cold weather to hot, and I avoid the sun's rays, I don't like being stuck indoors, either. 

No big deal, I'm just more aware of how I feel nowadays because I've been reading up on Seasonal affective Disorders (SAD) for work. One interesting (also logical) thing I noted is that Light Therapy is used to treat SAD, as well as some medical conditions. It's also used to treat various skin conditions. Lasers are used in facials to kill bacteria, close pores and also to remove unwanted hair. 

For most of us, we can probably get these types of treatments once in a while, but wouldn't it be nice to be able to do it ourselves anytime we want or need them? We can! Check out Tanda.Com. They have awesome gadgets using light technology like tanda zap for acne treatment, as well as others for teeth whitening, hair removal and many more. Best of all? They're completely portable, so they're not just for using at home. You can take them with you anywhere, so your beauty rituals don't have to be postponed when your on a trip or something. 

Here's a something else I found on that website: A very interesting and informative graphic on the history of skincare. Gonna try those facial toning exercises. Feels kinda silly, but I hope it'll pay off.

Via: Tanda Skincare

Thanks for reading, 

Jackie

Nature Republic Petit Cherry Rouge in G09

Hello, sexy people! I'm back, but don't worry, no promises or excuses this time. Instead, here's a review from a Korean brand we haven't covered before: Nature Republic.

The Makeup Suite Fab Opening Giveaway

Win GC's c/o The Makeup Suite and My Lucid Intervals.

Click the pic to join.

Fun With Cats

Meet Remington:

She is the smallest (I don't like saying runt) of a litter of three. Now, I love all my pets very much but I like to keep a close watch on her because she's so tiny (she's like half the size of her siblings) and maybe a little frail  (physically, but she's a ball of pure attitude) so we spend a lot of time together. Because of this, she gets to go through my stuff and even yoinks what she really likes.

She appropriated this unicorn marionette a while back.

So now, I like getting things I think she might like, too. Recently, I got this book for the two of us.

This is a a really cute book, if you don't take the new age stuff seriously. I wouldn't cast any real spells or do anything that feels too much like a ritual but it's fun to read about how astrological signs affect a cat's personality (catsonality?) 

Look! Remington's on the cover.

Sleek i-Divine Palette in Au Naturel

I am always attracted to makeup palettes when I see them because they are just so pretty to look at and I always love colorful things but I've never been tempted to buy those HUGE palettes which have all the colors under the sun. That's because I know myself well enough to know that I'll never use more than half those colors. I prefer picking out single eyeshadows one at a time just to make sure they'll be used.

Then all those neutral/natural palettes came out  one after the other and they were very tempting especially UD Naked 2 (more "me" colors. read: champagne), but frankly speaking, I don't wear e/s that often nor am I that great at putting them on so I couldn't justify the price tag on the Naked 2. Not yet, at least. I decided to get the Sleek i-Divine Palette in 601 Au Naturel. Let's start with this for practice, and if I get a lot of use out of this and if I get any better, maybe I'll move on to more grown up palettes.

Tag: 45 Beauty Questions

Tagged by Jade of Sweethestia and Helen of Lucky Citrine. Thanks, this was fun.

1. How many times do you wash your face daily?

 - More than 3. If it's hot and I'm just at home, everytime I go to the bathroom. Haha.

2. What skin type do you have? Dry, oily, or combi skin?

Combination and somewhat sensitive.

3. What is your current facial wash?

Currently on rotation: 

- Laneige Multi Cleanser

has fine beads for mild scrubbing.

- The Face Shop Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam in Lemon and

very gentle and smells nice and fresh

an acne wash from a dermatologist.

4. Do you exfoliate? How often?

About 2 or 3 times a week.

5. What product do you use to exfoliate?

-  for face: M2 HP Skin Refinish and  Korean peeling gels.

- for body: 

Yogurt Spa Milk Salt Shower Bath

I also sometimes use MaxiPeel face scrub for the body because it's nice and cool =))

6. What moisturizer do you use?

- iWhite Aqua and Nature Republic Aqua Combination Watery Cream

7. Do you have freckles/sun spots?

-  No cuz I'm olive-skinned.

10. Do you use eye cream?

- Yes, but I need to do it more regularly.

11. Do you or did you have acne prone skin?

- Not more than normal.

12. Did you ever have to use pro-activ?

- No. 

13. What foundation do you use?

- Maybelline (powder) and various Korean brands. 

14. How about concealer?

- Garnier (eyes)

15. Do you know your undertone color?

- Warm

16. What do you think of fake eyelashes?

-  They're cute, but I can't be bothered to use them everyday.

17. Did you know that you're supposed to change mascara every 3 months?

- Yup, so I never buy overly expensive ones or too many at once.

18. What brand of mascara do you use?

- Usually Maybelline or Avon.

19. Sephora or Mac?

- MAC because I've used some products before. Not too familiar with Sephora's prods.

20. Do you have a Mac pro card?

- Nope.

21. What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?

- Mostly sponges and fingers.

22. Do you use makeup base or primer for your eyes?

- the Proof 10 one from Etude House.

23. For the face?

- Lioele Secret Pore Rich Balm

24. What is your favorite eyeshadow shade?

- Champagne colors.

Etude House Touch Touch Shadow Liner in Vanilla

25. Do you use pencil or liquid liner?

- Pencil.

26. How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?

- not with  pencils, but with eyelash curlers and mascara wands. (>_<)

27. What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?

- They're lovely but I'll need a lot of practice first.

28. Do you use mineral makeup?

-  Sometimes.

29. What is your favorite "go-to" lipstick? Why?

- Nyx Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar. It's the best MLBB shade for me, and I get a lot of compliments when I use it.

30. How about lip gloss? Why?

-  I love Careline Vitamin E Glosses.

31. What is your favorite blush to use and why?

- Ever Bilena Cheek Blush in Raisin or EB Mousse blushes.

32. Do you buy your makeup on ebay/ebay.ph?

- Yup, you can find a lot of good buys and items not available in stores, yet.

33. Do you like drugstore makeup?

- Of course.

34. Do you go to cosmetic company outlets?

- Sometimes.

35. Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?

- I'm still thinking about it.

36. Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

- Yes!

37. Name a makeup crime that you hate.

- Severe looking drawn on eyebrows.

38. Do you like colorful shades of makeup or neutral ones?

- Neutral., except for lips. I gotta be me.  ヽ(^。^)ノ

39. Which celebrity always has great makeup?

- Zooey Deschanel. I always love the way she looks, and she makes looking good seem effortless.

40. If you could leave the house using just one makeup item, what would you use?

- BB Cream. 

41. Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?

- Yup. I don't mind.

42. In your opinion, what is the best makeup line?

- I don't have any favorites but brands which are cruelty-free and are against animal testing get a lot of love from me. NYX for the same reason, plus it's affodrable.

43. What do you think of makeup?

- Makeup should not be used to hide the bad, but to emphasize the good.

44. What is your favorite "quote" related to makeup?

“The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you!” -Coco Chanel

45. If you were a makeup tool/product, what would you be and why?

- Blush because I'm shy, nyahaha.

Haven't done this tag, yet? I'm tagging you, so join in on the fun and let me know where I can read your answers.  ^^

Thanks for reading, 

Jackie

Maybelline Baby Lips

This entry has been on my drafts forever maybe because there are just no words to express my love for this product.

Initially, I only bought this because it was so darn cute, not to mention cheap at PHP 79, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn it's much, much more than that. I got the one in menthol because I always like mint flavors, unlike fruit that I kind of have to be in the mood for. 

Lanvin Marry Me

And we just met, too. This is one forward perfume. Ha-ha. 

Well, it may not be a diamond ring but Lanvin Marry Me is as romantic as fragrances go. It's girly and floral, but so light and fresh-smelling, getting an up close and personal whiff of the person wearing it won't make you nauseated.

New Lip Stuff

Took advantage of Multiply's free shipping promo and got a few gifts for some people and NYX stuff for myself as well.

• Slim Lipliner Pencil in Dolly Pink
• Matte Lipsticks in Audrey (top) and Angel (bottom)
• Round Lipstick in Narcissus

A Few New Gets

Got a few things online:

• Lioele Glittering Jewel  Pencil in Brown
• Etude House Color in the lighter shade
• Etude House Touch Touch Cream Shadow Liner in Vanilla
• Etude House Silk Scarf Shampoo and Conditioner
• Etude House Dress Room Sweet Look Body Wash and Sweet Look Body Lotion
• Etude House Petit Bijou Cotton Snow Moisture Body Lotion

The tubes are all minis (30 ml). I love buying minis because full-sized products just get wasted on me. I get tired of using the same old thing for too long and this gives me a reason to buy new stuff right away. ^^

I had a chance to try the Silk Scarf stuff before and liked it. I had a set of the shampoo, condition and hair treatment in sample sachets/envelopes. The products have a nice raspberry smell, but I'm not sure how great they are for regular use. I'll let you know when I'm done with it.

Some samples and freebies:

• Nature Republic Aqua Combination Watery Cream
• Skin Food Quinoa Rich Body Milk
• Charcoal Essence Mask from MJCare (freebie)
• "The History Of" BB Cream   (freebie)
• Innisfree Almond Sugar Scrub   (freebie)

My sample collection's growing. They've become what stickers and stationery used to be for me in my grade school days. (I try not to use the stuff I don't have doubles of, haha.)

I've never heard of the brands of the sheet mask and the bb cream the seller kindly included in my freebies. She put in some other free samples, too but I already had them so I just gave them to my sister (who likes samples as  much as me.)

I promise, I will get around to review all the stuff I've been meaning to eventually.  Just stay tuned!

Thanks for reading, 

Jackie

M2 HP Skin Refinish

The fight against aging starts in our 20's, and products that promise brighter, more youthful and flawless skin like the M2 line Luminaze are choice weapons. I've been dying to try them since I first heard about them.

I heard a lot of good things about M2 skincare products a while back and I recently got the chance to use it. Since I am a new user, I will be sharing my first impression of the product.

About the Product

This is a micropeel product. This line gets its name from the 2 main active ingredients: Mandelic Acid, which is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid or AHA derived from almonds and Malic Acid, which occurs naturally in fruits.

The product itself is a clear sticky dense liquid. I mean really sticky. I think a lot of people would be bothered by the stickiness of it, but I actually think it's a good idea. It keeps the product on my face and doesn't come off even if I sweat and it doesn't transfer to my pillow or sheets when I sleep. Besides, it dries to a kind of shiny film after a few minutes and becomes more comfortable after moisturizer is applied.

This product works fast! There was flaking around my nose and mouth areas the morning after my first use and I saw dead skin on my cotton pad when I applied toner. Also, like with products of this nature, expect a purging stage, where deep seated dirt and impurities come up to the surface in the form of breakouts.

Ingredients for those interested.

It's still too early to say but here are my thoughts so far:

Likes:

- fast results

- Comes in an airless pump bottle which twists up and out to open. No lost caps or parts. Very hygienic.

- A little goes a long way.

Dislikes:

- expensive! (for me, at least. 2K-3K for 50 ml)

- not widely available, (most people just buy online or through dermatologists)

- strong smell

- itching or stinging sensation. Not for sensitive skin.

- Purging stage

Etc.

- When using peeling/whitening products, always wear sunscreen.

- Don't be scared by the purging stage, the product is going to treat those breakouts as well. Just follow through or else you'll be left worse off than when you started.

- For new users, only use this product every other day for the first couple of months so that your skin gets used to the ingredients. (I alternate this with an acne treatment for the breakouts)

Will I buy again?

Undecided. It depends on the end result after 1 bottle.

Thanks for reading, 

Jackie

P.S. I was not paid by M2 to do this review. The product was also bought, not sponsored.

My First Picks at Lush

Trying Lush soaps for the first time ever. Stay tuned for reviews.

In case you're wondering, I got these two:

Demon in the Dark- dark mint and apple

Honey I Washed the Kids- honey and toffee

Summer has officially started in my country. Whatever, I'm gonna beat the heat no matter what! 

Thanks for reading, 

Jackie

Dashi Daisuke

Meet Dashi:

Join Heart Kristel's Giveaway

Click pic to enter

Good luck!

Health is Wealth, So Save On Meds

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Health is always important, but when times are tough, it's more important than ever to take care of one's body. When you're trying to get ahead, nothing sets you back further than an untimely illness or mishap. Some things can't be avoided.
 

Everyone has medical expenses. Even people who are in perfect health need to take certain measures to maintain that condition. As for the rest of us, we need meds just to make sure our condition don't go from bad to worse. The good news is, you can choose to spend as little as possible if you join the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club.

 

It's amazing: for $35 a year, a family membership covers everyone in your immediate family, including a spouse, dependents 22 and younger and pets (Imagine!). Join and receive discount prices on your prescriptions. Still single? No problem, join as an individual for $20 a year. Other benefits include:

• Savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications

• Discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies

• Bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services

Get more details and updates by following Walgreens on Twitter and liking Walgreens on Facebook

Thanks for reading,

Jackie

Cute Cat Bank

Every little bit counts. Don't take loose change lightly. Keep them all in one place and you'll be surprised how they add up.

Thanks to this cat bank, I no longer overlook coins, no matter how small. You'll see why after the jump.

NOTD: Etude House Petit Darling Nails PP903

A while back, I made it a mission to find the perfect pale lilac nail polish. It was harder than it seemed, most of what I've seen were too pink or too dark. I even considered making my own by adding a couple of drops of dark purple polish to a bottle of white polish. I never got around to it because I found one I was happy with at Etude House. I should've known to look there first. They definitely know their pastels (I mean, look at their store!)

Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa

 Killing two birds with one stone as I practice techniques on personalizing blog pics and update the blog at the same time.

Addis Ababa is my second Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream. The first one was Milan, which I reviewed here in case you missed it.

I don't have a lot to add to what I already said about the product in that review, so just check that out for more details. This post is going to focus on the shade in particular.

Last Few Hauls of 2011

 Welcome back to the blog, lovelies! I hope that everyone's off to a good start this 2012.

Before I move forward completely, here are a couple of new stuff I got before the new year and a little something about some of them. Expect a more detailed review for the others in the future. Note that I didn't get all of this at the same time.

From eBay:

 

Baviphat  Makeup Case- roomy and with compartments for brushes.
Korean Travel Brush Set- the brushes are kind of flimsy but usable. The brushroll is really pretty.
Beauty Credit Naked Balm- a kind of bb cream for the body. Have yet to use it.
Baviphat Sugar Girl Peach Sebum Solution Pact in Shade #2 (Natural Beige)

I also got a couple more samples but let's save those for later. More stuff after the jump.

Work in Style: Join Pimp My Cube

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Contest Factory for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 In order to be happy and productive at work, one needs to have the ideal working environment, and that includes your workspace. Even the greatest minds will have trouble producing quality output when all he has is a cramped cubicle, an uncomfortable chair,  an ancient computer and harsh fluorescent lights.

In contrast, those who work at home have an equally tough problem: they might get too comfortable.They also have more distractions like the TV, the fridge and family. They need a workspace that'll keep them in business mode.

If you're in either situation and want to improve your office/cubicle/workspace, or if you know anyone who could use a workspace makeover,  then check out  the Pimp My Cube Contest They are looking for someone with the worst office/cubicle or workspace and want to hook him or her up with everything he or she needs for the perfect workspace.

Prizes:

The contest has a total grand prize value of approximately $1200 and the winner gets to pimp his or her workspace with one of three prize packages:

    *  New high end computer system
    *  New Desk, Chair and Decorations
    * New Entertainment Package with high end stereo, espresso machine etc.

A second sweepstakes prize of a $200 gift card will be awarded to the registered user chosen by random drawing at the end of the contest period.

How to Join:

Visit the contest website, register and upload a video showing your horrible workspace and tell the judges why you should be the one to win the workspace makeover of a lifetime. One you enter, get your friends, family or even co-workers who want in on prizes to vote for your video. Make your entry as witty and interesting as possible, so that even strangers might  vote for you. The better the story, the funnier the video – better chances of winning. The grand prize of your cube being ‘pimped’ will be selected by CF judges based on various criteria including for the most votes, best (really worst) video and most compelling story. You get sweepstakes entry points for registering, voting, commenting and inviting others to register for the contest, as well.

Watch this video for more details:

 

 

No one has uploaded a video yet so the chances of winning are very good. Go check it out, and good luck!