Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)...

I'm pretty sure everyone of you had heard already about Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) hitting our country, the Philippines, very hard. In my almost 24 years of existence, this is the first I experienced extreme flooding here in Metro Manila..Me and my family are lucky because our house have 2nd and 3rd floor and our village is a little higher than the rest of the area around us but my other relatives and my boyfriend was not as lucky...my brother got home very late last night because he got stranded in their office in Libis..my relatives who lives in Sta. Mesa, Manila (their house is just beside Pasig river) is still stranded on the second floor of their house until now without food and water because the water is still 6ft deep..another relative of mine was already on their 3rd floor because the water was already covering the second floor of their house..my best friend and her mom was stuck without any food too on their office in Del Monte and was just able to get home this lunch..and the most sad news for me is when I learned yesterday that my boyfriend with his family had been evacuated from their house in Novaliches, Quezon City because their house was submerged completely. They need to walk on top of the roof of the houses just so they can go to a higher place in their subdivision..I got so nervous yesterday when I can't contact him and that is the reason..They were very busy in surviving especially with a 7months old baby on their arms. They were unable to salvage anything! No clothes or foods or any personal stuff. According to him, their house got flooded in less than an hour! That's how fast the water level came up. It is because their house is near a small stream and Novaliches is near Angat Dam (why did they not give any warning that they need to open the dam?!)..This is the very first time our place got flooded! Even the highway (Mindanao Avenue) just outside of our subdivision looked like a raging river with around 5ft water level..I'm just glad all my love ones are still safe. I'm just glad my bf and his family is already staying in his aunt's place in Fairview and they are warm and safe already. But I'm still worried for my Ninang Mayet and my other uncles and cousins who live in Sta. Mesa because they still have some flood water..

I'm really sad right now especially after I watched the news..the death toll is already more than 80 and the search and rescue operations are still ongoing and for sure the number of deaths will still go up and the damage is still increasing..hundreds of families are already homeless right now and had lost contact with their relatives..Please help us pray..Let us pray that we can all get through this calamity soon..God bless everyone! Be safe.

Gale Eats: Chocolate Cupcakes with Fuge Frostings

Hello everyone! I just want to share with you all my treat of the week. Me and my sis ordered some chocolate cupcakes with fudge frostings from my friend Miren who has her own e-shop on multiply called Best Desserts. We had some cravings for sweets and when my mom asked me to ask Miren to bake some sugar-free chewy oatmeal cookies for my grandparents, we took the opporutnity to order some for ourselves haha :)

We chose these cupcakes because we have not yet tried it..I have eaten almost majority of her goods already because I love sweets and I love how my friend bakes them. No scrimping on ingredients and always fresh and chewy. Hmm just thinking of these babies makes me want to order again haha..I'm so lucky I don't get fat with all the carbs and the sugars I take in.


By the way, I got this photo from Miren's site because I was unable to take some actual pictures. We already devoured the cupcakes before I thought of taking some pictures haha ^_^

What I like about it:
- very moist cake even after being refrigerated
- the sweetness of the cupcake and frosting is just enough..not too sweet
- the size is perfect..not too big or too small
- freshly baked (Miren always bake the orders the night before she delivers them)

What I don't like:
- Miren's office or house is too far from my place..she is located in Makati and I'm from Novaliches..so I need to opt for one-day shipping but I can't have everything shipped :(
- the frostings is not that smooth..you can feel some chocolate bits from it..but this won't be a problem to some

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5 - If only the frosting is smoother :)

WILL I REPURCHASE? Definitely! And I will try some more of her new creations :)

Where to buy: Best Desserts by Miren (http://bestdesserts.multiply.com)


That's it! I just want to make all of you hungry haha joke! Enjoy your weekends guys! I won't be able to post here for a few days coz I'll be staying with my grandparents until they went back to Mindanao :)

Bye!

Revisit: The Face Shop Clean Face White Cleanser

0I'm on the roll today! haha This is my 3rd post already. Anyways, as promised, here is my final review for The Face Shop Clean Face White Acne Solution Foam Cleanser.

If you want to read my initial review on this product, click here.

I started using this last July 29, 2009 and I have been continuously using this product everyday since then. For the first 2-3 weeks, I just used this at night because my skin got so dry (I think my skin was still adjusting that time) so I just washed my face with fresh water every morning. But for the last 3 weeks, I've been using this 2x a day already since I usually wake up like a grease ball haha..Anyways, so I have been using this product religiously for more than 6 weeks already.


I LIKE this product because it:

- is affordable (it is only Php645 for a 150ml tube)
- is readily available on all The Face Shop stores locally
- foams easily even with a small amount of product
- can give you a squeeky clean and refreshed feel after washing
- non-drying after your skin got used to it already
- has a mild scent only..so perfect for those who are fragrance-sensitive
- doesn't sting my facial skin or even my nose and eyes
- very mild in my opinion
- did not cause me any breakouts

What I DON't LIKE about this are:

- it did not do anything to my skin tone..I did not notice any whitening effect on my marks at all
- there are still some dirt on my cotton pad when I use my toner..so I'm not sure if this cleanses thoroughly..but for everyday use, it is good.
- it did little in pimple prevention or treatment
- it does not remove all traces of makeup if used as a makeup remover and cleanser in one

OVER-ALL RATING: 4/5 - This is perfect for everyday cleansing but it is not enough to remove your makeup so you still need to use a separate makeup remover. This is not really a problem for me because I do use a separate makeup remover at night. Also, it doesn't whiten so don't expect to get brighter looking skin if used alone.

WILL YOU PURCHASE AGAIN? I'm still thinking about it since I'm really a product junkie so I want to try another facial cleanser after this hehe but if I can't decide on what cleanser to buy after I finished this one, I'll probably buy another tube of this since it works great.

What about you? What's your favorite cleanser? I want to have a list of products to consider so all your input will be appreciated :)

I'm thinking of purchasing the following:
- Murad acne cleanser <--i a="a" ago="ago" and="and" br="br" great="great" have="have" it="it" more="more" than="than" this="this" used="used" works="works" year="year">- Philosphy Purity Made Simple <-- and="and" have="have" i="i" it="it" liked="liked" span="span" this="this" too="too" used="used">
- Avalon cleanser

Hoping for more suggestions! Till next time. Bye! ^_^

More items and a concert for Mio

Just a quick heads up on Mio Fights Cancer ^_^

There are new products up for grabs at beautyforaliving.com to help fund Mio's chemotherapy. To see the items, click here.

Also, they are having a benefit concert for him at the end of the month:

MIO FIGHTS CANCER: THE BENEFIT CONCERT!

Sept. 30, 2009

Music Museum

Guests/Performers: Denise Laurel, Maja Salvador, All Stars, Young JV, Marcus Davis, Jay-R, Kris Lawrence, Carla & Nikki Guevarra, Salamin, Kjwan, Kaye Abad, Archipelago, Pupil, Imago, Severo, JP David, Akafellas, Saab Magalona, Top Junk, Techy Romantics, Sessionroad, Dingdong Dantes, The Pin-Up Girls, Caren Mangaran, Baron Geisler, Dice&K-9/Mobbstarr, Hi-C, Stick Figgas and more!Hosted by Sarah Meier, Mo Twister, Grace Lee and Mojo Jojo.

Tickets are sold through Ticket World and at the Music Museum gate (P300, P500, P700). Buy your tickets now and make Mio's cancer go away with very loud music!

For more info about the concert, click here.

Initial Review for Avalon Organics Vitamin C Oil-free Moisturizer

Hello everyone! Good morning! Well, as promised, here's my initial take on Avalon Organics Vitamin C Rejuvenating Oil-Free Moisturizer. I used this last night and this morning after my toner and acne lotion.

For more pictures of the product, click here.

PROS:

- 100% vegan and organic = cruelty-free, without artificial colors, synthetic fragrances or parabens (perfect for sensitive skin like me)
- smells wonderful and refreshing - it smells citrus-y as if you are peeling an orange
- available locally at any Healthy Options store
- affordable - this cost Php575 only for a 50ml tub..I think that's a great deal already.
- can be spread on skin with ease..it's a cream but thin in consistency so it spreads like a gel IMO - no sticky feeling on my face or fingers after applying
- easily absorbed because it is oil-free
- very light on the face..no heavy feel as with other cream type moisturizer
- does not sting my face even if I have skin asthma attack now
- moisturizes very well
- I had no new bumps or rashes when I woke up
- and lastly, it has Vitamin C as the active ingredient. According to the product info:

"Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant proven to defend against the damaging, sun-aging effects of free radicals generated by UV exposure. Vitamin C will help repair and protect your skin from the signs of aging by naturally boosting collagen and elastin production, stimulating cellular renewal and increasing healthy circulation for a youthful, luminous complexion."

"Our Rejuvenating Oil-Free Moisturizer with Vitamin C will energize your complexion with improved circulation, clarity, tone and texture. This nourishing blend of certified organic botanicals, soothing plant emollients and powerful antioxidants is the ultimate age-defying oil-free moisturizer. Enriched with organic White Tea, Melatonin and Lemon Bioflavonoids for unequaled free radical defense."


What I don't like about this product

- I hope the packaging is a pump bottle so it is more hygienic..but I guess it can't be since this product is a cream and it won't dispense on a pump right? hehe
- it has no SPF or UVA/UVB protection

OVER-ALL RATING: 4/5 - I would give this a 5 if it has sun protection.

Will I repurchase? Yes! As long as I don't get any reactions from this..but so far so good so I'm really loving this moisturizer. It does the job of moisturizing pretty well without the heavy feel and at the same time it has anti-aging benefits too so I'm really happy.

TIPS:
- you can store your moisturizer on the refrigerator to make it's shelf life longer and refresh your face when you apply it because it is cool
- after you got some products on your fingertips, rub your fingers together to help it thin the consistency for easy spreading all over the face
- moisturize even if you have oily skin like mine to lessen the oiliness of your face (your skin will not release extra sebum if it thinks your skin is already well moisturized). Just choose an oil-free formulation.

I'll post a revisit review on this product after a month. I'm hoping to see an improvement on my skin too in terms of moisture and elasticity as what the product claims. Thanks for droopping by my blog today! Till next time. Bye! ^_^

Review: Ellana Lip & Cheek Tint in Ruby

As you all know, my sister Mei is a re-seller of Ellana Minerals and she has many testers too so I can easily test some products before I buy them hehe nice advantage right? Well, my sis got herself a lip and cheek tint in Ruby because it is a best seller and we are curious about it. We are used to using blushes in loose powder form so we are quite intrigued on this item. Here's my take on this product. Take note that I'm not in anyway an expert in applying gel or liquid blushes so I had a hard time applying this.

PACKAGING - This product comes in a cleat pump container so it is very sanitary plus it has a lock to help prevent accidental expelling of product. I like the fact that you can easily control the amount of product to pump.


Here's a swatch of the product. It is very red right?

This is how it looks like after spreading it at the back of my hand. It doesn't dry too fast so you definitely have time to blend it unlike other cheek tints that you need to work fast. With Ellana, you can work at your own pace without the worry of having streaks because you don't have time to blend.

Here's what a blended one looks like..I swatched it like this so that the shade can be seen in the picture :)

My FOTD using Ellana Lip and Cheek Tint in Ruby. I applied it both on my cheeks and lips. I used it on top of my Skin79 BB cream (hot pink) then I applied Ellana Sheer Velvet all over my face to help with the oiliness.

I like how it gave me a natural flush that is long lasting. This is a great product and you can definitely get your money's worth. This costs Php180 only (around $3.6) for a 30ml bottle that is full of products.

The only thing I don't like about this product is, as with other cheek tints, it stains my fingers. I feel like if I use any kind of cream or gel or liquid blush, 50% of the product will ust go on the fingers you used in applying haha..look how stained my finger was..

..but aside from that, everything is okay. Oh before I forgot, this will also takes practice to make both your cheeks even since you need to re-apply and re-apply.

So if you are a cheek tint type of girl, then go ahead and buy it but if you are like me who hates getting stained fingers or the extra work of cleaning yourself up, then I suggest you stick with powder blushes since all tints stains ^_^

You can get this or any Ellana products in www.itzmei.multiply.com

Thank you for dropping by! till nect time! ^_^

Haul: Avalon Organics Vit. C Rejuvenating Oil-free Moisturizer

*warning: picture heavy*

Hello everyone! How's your 1st day of work/school so far? I hope everything went fine :)

Today, I went shopping for a good moisturizer. I finished up my tub of moisturizer made by my derma yesterday and I can't believe it coincided with my skin asthma attack. I had a hard time sleeping last night because my face felt so dry, itchy and there's a stinging sensation around my mouth too. Actually when I woke up this morning, my skin was still dry so I did not put anything on my face after washing (same with last night..just cleansing and treatment gel for itchies). Since I don't want to purchase another moisturizer from my derma (because I find it expensive even though it works great for me hehe), I went out to buy another one. I first went to Loccitane but after seeing the price tag of their moisturizers (Php 2,700 for 30 ml tube!) , I did not purchase it..I can buy a lot of Celeteque water-based moisturizer for that price hehe. As I was walking along, I came across Healthy Options and I remembered that Avalon Organics is a good brand of skin care according Girltalk and so I purchased one. I got myself the Skin Nourishing Anti-oxidant intensive Vitamin C Sun-aging Defense Rejuvenating Oil-free moisturizer..whew! what a long name! This moisturizer costs only Php575 for a 50 ml tub so I think this will last me a couple of months.


The Ingredients...
Here's what the container looks like...

It comes with a clear plastic cap with embosed label

It is a white, cream-type moisturizer that is thin in consistency.

Here's a swatch of it..this cream spreads easily and absorbs fast in the skin.

I'll give my intial take tomorrow for a more comprehensive point of view. At least I have used it twice already and I can note if there would be any changes in my skin. Please watch out for it tomorrow. Thanks! See you tomorrow guys! Bye ^_^

Beauty can be Cruelty-free

Hello everyone! As you all know, I'm an animal-lover and I have just realized the importance of patronizing cruelty-free products. I agree that compannies produces these products because consumers are buying them so if we stopped buying these items that are tested on animals, the companies will stop making them altogether and we can stop them from testing on animals. After doing some research about animal testing, I got quite paranoid in buying items especially those that has no clear meaning whether they are against animal testing or not. An example of this is Bath and Body Works lotion. I love this lotion so much but I just noticed the label this afternoon..it has a very ambigous statement of "this finished product is not tested on animals." Now I wonder, does it mean only the finished product (the lotion itself) is not tested on animals but the ingredients are? Then if that is true, then it depicts the purpose of being cruelty free right? Coz you still have tested them on animals..I'm just glad that BBW cleared this misunderstanding and they do not test on animals..whew! 
 
I can't imagine the intensity of the pain and discomfort these animals need to experience under the hands of these people who don't care a whit about how these animals are feeling or if they die or not from all of these chemicals that are being introduced to their little bodies,.Just imagine a cute little rabbit being fed with a certain chemical to check if it will have a reaction or not..then what if that chemical is so potent for that little body and can cause tremendous pain? and since he doesn't have any power, he will suffer until his body gives up and die. Isn't that so heart breaking? What if that animal is you very own dog or cat? I believe that humans are made by God in order to take care of all the animals in the world but what are we doing? We are abusing the power of superiority that we have been given. 
 
I'm really sad that most of the companies who do animal-testing are the big ones like Loreal, Procter and Gamble, Unilever and the like. I have found many sites where in there are lists of companies that do or do not support animal testing.
 
for the list of COMPANIES THAT DO ANIMAL TESTING click here
I copied some FAQs from this website:
"–How does a company get on the "Don't Test" list?

Companies listed as "Don't Test" have either signed our statement of assurance that they are cruelty-free or provided a statement verifying that they do not conduct or commission any non-required animal tests on ingredients, formulas, or finished products and that they pledge not to do so in the future.
–Why are these companies included on the "Do Test" list?
The companies on the "Do Test" list manufacture products that are tested on animals. Listed in parentheses are examples of products manufactured by either the company listed or its parent company. For a complete listing of products manufactured by a company on this list, please visit the company's Web site or contact the company directly for more information. Companies on this list may manufacture individual lines of products without animal testing (e.g., Clairol claims that its Herbal Essences line is not animal-tested), but have not, however, eliminated animal testing from their entire line.
–How often are the lists updated?
This database is updated weekly to reflect any new additions, deletions, or changes to existing info. The list is based on the most current information available to us.
–Are all the products on the "Don't Test" list vegan?
No. Only the companies marked as "vegan" manufacture strictly vegan products—made without animal ingredients, such as milk and egg byproducts, slaughterhouse byproducts, lanolin from sheep, honey, or beeswax. Companies that are not marked as vegan may still offer some vegan products.
–I can't find a particular company on either the "Do Test" list or the "Don't Test" list. What does that mean?
A company may not be found because it has a parent company that tests on animals, because we have no information on its policies, or because it claims to be cruelty-free but has not yet signed our statement of assurance (this must be done in order to be listed). You can inquire with us regarding companies not listed or write to them directly and ask."

Another site you might want to check is http://www.idausa.org/facts/crueltyfree.html
For the list of Make Up Without Cruelty click here
 
This comprehensive list of makeup without cruelty is created by Suzzan (of mymakeupmirror.com), who is a health and beauty writer, and is passionate about animal rights..She have done extensive research about these companies and have been continously updating this list so I believe that this is credible. She's also connected with Leapingbunny.org which is an international organization that focuses on keeping cosmetic products free of animal-cruelty. Plus you can also counter check the information you have read on her blog on these sites: "Sephora, Ulta, the PETA Mall, bewellstaywell.com, Whole Foods, your local health food store, and sometimes even at the pharmacy or Target." She also placed there at the end that if you have a non-animal tested company that should be added to the list, please let her know.
 
I really believe that by simply spreading the word and by not purchasing these products, we can help save our cute furry friends' lives. Let us support this cause guys. I know that you are also against torturing innocent animals for the welfare of beauty right? There are alot of great products that do not test on animals so why can't other companies do this too? We all have a choice anyway :)
 
Thank you for reading my very long blog. I hope we can do something good today by supporting this campaign of keeping cosmetics (and other products) cruelty-free. ^_^
Till next time, Bye!

Tagged: "You in the Future"

I was tagged by Emily of Pink Monkey. The mechanics of this tag is to post what you think you will look or have in the future. It can be the type or style of clothing and accessories, your makeup look and items, hairstyle or where you want to go..it's actually anything about you and what you think you will be in the future. I think this is a fun thing to do so I'll be answering this tag ^_^ 

CLOTHING - I really see myself wearing Korean and Japanese fashion. I'm always fascinated whenever I see Korean and Japanese actresses, singers and models with this style because they look elegant and cute at the same time..and they look so comfortable.. Asian fashion don't really bare too much skin and so I find it to my liking a lot..and I want to wear boots! haha :)

LOOK - I want to look like Yoon Eun Hye in this phot. I want to have long curly hair too hehe I'm always curious what I will look like with soft big curls like hollywood stars and singers. I also waat to purchase an expensive eyeglasses like this because my eyeglasses is on my essential items so I will definitely not mind spending bnig bucks for one :)

SKIN - YEH's skin all-over is perfect in this shot IMO and I'm aiming to have smooth, flawless skin before I reach 30 haha I don't know..I just want to be able to have the confidence to wear a swimsuit in a beach during my honeymoon (I plan on getting married before I'm 30) ^_^

PETS - I want to have a chihuahua,a labrador and some mongrels as pets. I love dogs so I don't think I can live without one :)

and lastly, I see myself living in Canada with my own family. I am already starting to arrange the requirements and papers in order to migrate to Canada and hopefully within 2 years I can go there already :)

That's it! I hope you had fun reading this long post hehe..I want to know yours too..so post away! I'm tagging everyone who read this. Till next time! ^_^

Anniversary Celebration: 6th year ^_^

Hello everyone! How's everything? I hope all is fine and well..I have good news! The hospital where I trained for 3 months had already contacted me..I went there yesterday morning and they already gave me a list of requirements to complete for employment! Yipee!! Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers ^_^

Also, me and O celebrated our 6th anniversary (September 15) yesterday. We spent the wholeday at Trinoma Mall after my meeting with the HR of the hospital. We went singing at RedBox Karaoke because my bf is quite a singer and he knows how much I love hearing him sing specially his impersonation of my fave singers haha..so that's his gift for me, a whole afternoon of singing just for me..I'm so happy! We availed the Lunch Hour promo which is only Php199 per person and you will have bottomless iced tea and eat all you can buffet for lunch plus free use of a room from 12 - 3pm. Super sulit! ^_^

I know you might be wondering what I gave him right? Well I made a big card..everything in it was handmade so I spent a couple of days cutting pictures and letters from magazines and also drawing for the design. Here's a part of the card I made. I drew a cartoon body of us then I pasted our head on it haha it looks cute noh? :)

Also, my favorite godmother, Ninang Mayet, who is an artist gave me a caricature she made as a gift to us. She knows how much I love drawings like this because they are unique (now you know where I got my love for sketching haha) and special since it is personalized..If you want something like this, you can email me and I can give you my godmother's contact info (she do this as a freelance artist)..I think this is a very nice gift for the upcoming holidays and the perfect gift for those who already have almost everything :)

And of course, here's a picture of us sitting in the couch inside our room at Redbox. It is a very cozy but cold room haha.. What I find facinating in our room is the lighting..it adjust via a dial so you can achieve the perfect lighting you want..I told O that I want a lighting like that on our house haha ^_^

And here's our lunch..they served us liempo (grilled pork), afritada (i think), fish fillet, pasta with white sauce and a huge serving of rice..We were unable to have a refill of everything because we are already full haha we were joking that we ate fiesta foods to celebrate. Oh and the bottomless iced tea? we were unable to have a refill too because the 1 pitcher was already enough for us both.

We planned to eat ice cream or cake but since we had too much food for lunch, our stomach don't have any space anymore for dessert haha..So after walking around for an hour, we went home to his place to play with my god daughter Tanya. I'm so happy whenever I see her because she doesn't cry anymore whenever I carry her..She actually looks excited and happy whenever I go there..they keep on joking that she knows I'm her ninang and so she needs to make "sipsip" to me haha ^_^

And here's a picture of my very cute inaanak posing for me ^_^

Till next time! ^_^

Birthday - Silver EOTD

Happy Monday guys! Wow! another week has passed by very fast..I'm a bit sad today because my job applications are still unreturned but I'm hoping for a good news this week. I'm always trying to think positive hehe ^_^


Anyways, pardon me for a very boring title..I can't think of a better one as of this moment haha..I went to a children's birthday party yesterday. One of my youngest cousins celebrated his 2nd birthday yesterday at Jollibee Ortigas. I enjoyed taking pictures of everyone..it is a small gathering, around 30 guest only including the kids..just family and close friends I suppose. Although my tita's family is quite sad with the news that her dad is like a walking time bomb already because of the condition of his heart (he has aneurysm)..After hearing that, I got quite sad too coz I got close to him after I took care of him for a week before..So please help us pray for a longer life and better health condition for him.


here's an FOTD of me taken outside (actually inside the van beside the open door hehe). I think it is too bright coz my blush didn't show on the pic :(


FACE
- Lioele Waterdrop BB cream (I tried it again today haha and I didn't itch that much)
- Meow pampered puss foundie in Frisky Abyssinian
- Ellana Minerals Sheer Velvet powder
- Meow blush in Claw Your Way to the Top


LIPS
- Petroleum Jelly
- HR lipstick in Wanted Rouge #93


EYES
- SkinFood Salmon concealer on the undereyes
- Ellana Minerals Awake concealer
- MAC painpot in painterly all over lid upto browbone
- and I used the following colors from Coastal Scents 88 original palette:




I applied color A all over my lid up to the crease using my ELF flat shader brush then I blended color B on the crease area using my MAC 217 blending brush. I applied color C as highlight. And I wet my Charm angled liner brush with Aromaleigh eyeliner sealant and used color D as my eyeliner on the upper lashline. Then I curled my lashes and applied Lancome high definition mascara in black.

I applied it around 12 noon and around 10pm it looked like this already..

My lids still has some eyeshadows but they are already the faded version hehe ^_^

I'm gonna leave you all with a picture of our birthday boy. Happy 2nd birthday Edd Benedict!

Left to Right: my sister Mei, birthday boy Ben, me and my cousin Coleen

Till next time! Thank you for dropping by guys! ^_^

Let's Help Mio!

I just came across about a 5 year old boy named Mio who is suffering from Leukemia thru Shen. I'm so glad that I did coz even though I don't know how to help them (he's mom is a single mother), I want to start by spreading the words to all my family, friends and acquaintances. I believe that by simply posting about it on our blogs, we can reach many people and then more and more people can help Mio in his chemotherapy. Jasmine (Mio's mom) has a blog about Mio (his routines, condition, etc). If you have time, please visit the site too so that you can be well informed on what is happening to him. To tell you guys honestly, I was unable to read each and every post because (being a nurse) I can't help but think of all the possibility and also the difficulties this young boy is experiencing right now and I can't help but cry..here is the site: http://www.miofightscancer.com/

You can help this little angel by being a VOLUNTEER warrior...Click here for more info.

All our help even if we think it is small will surely be a great help for this little boy..we can try our best in helping him get a better future. God bless everyone! please help in spreading the word. Thank You!

Mineral Eyeshadows (swatches)

It's a rainy day again and I'm not feeling that good (maybe due to the frequent changing of weather, I'm getting the flu..I hope I'm wrong)..I wanted to up my spirit a little bit and I thought, "why not play with your makeup?" and so I planned to make a look. So I opened my traincase and brought out all my eyeshadows to get some inspiration. But sadly, I got none..yeah, not a single inspiration on what look I should do..I got sad coz it has been quite a while already since I made a pretty eye makeup and I really wanted to make one for you guys..anyways, while I was returning my stuff inside the traincase, I got an idea. Why not take a picture of the swatches of my remaining mineral eyeshadows? I have been neglecting these babies since I got my Coastal Scents 88 palette and I forgot how beautiful they are. So here's a shot of my mineral eyeshadows/multi-purpose minerals..I'm not an avid mineral makeup user anymore because I'm not that happy with my stash of mineral foundation already (I still can't find my perfect match in all my criteria) but I'm still in-love with mineral blushes and eyeshadows because they are so pigmented and lasts long on my oily lids. Plus, they are very affordable and has a huge variety of colors to choose from! I'll show you what I'm talking about. Check out how vibrant these loose pigments are ^_^

Very pretty right? and these are only samples because I know I won't be able to finish them up.

What I like about mineral e/s:
- can be bought in sample sizes (1/8 tsp or 1g depending on the brand) at very affordable prices ($1 or Php100)
- very pigmented even if applied dry and without a base (and more vibrant if applied foiled/wet)
- you only need to use a very minute amount of product everytime
- comes in a huge variety of finish and colors
- there are so many brands to choose from!
- long lasting on my oily lids

What I don't like about it:
- some pigments are just glitter bombs (so be careful on buying)
- my favorite brands are not available locally
- since it is in loose form, they tend to produce fallouts especially when applied dry

Will I continue buying mineral shadows? YES! Since they don't expire, I can continue to collect them and use them anytime. And for the price of 1 MAC or MUFE loose pigment, I can already have more than 20 shades of mineral eyeshadows to choose from :)

Here are my swatches of them. I applied them dry using my fingers. The upper half has base (MAC painterly paintpot) underneath while the lower part has no base whatsoever. See how pigmented they are? ^_^


They have the same quality of vibrancy (in terms of the color) as with the ones on the pots..Isn't it obvious how much I love them? Why did I ever forgot to use them? toink! :)

My Top 5 Favorite Brands for MMU e/s are:
1. Taylormade
2. Bare Escentuals
3. Monave
4. Lumiere
5. Dreamworld


What about you? Do you love/use mineral eyeshadows too? What are your favorite brands? Share them by posting on the comment box below..I would be happy to hear yours out too :)
Thanks for dropping by.. Till next time ^_^

Entry for Pammy's Contest: My Favorite Blush ^_^

Here's my entry for Pammy's contest ^_^

My favorite blush is from MEOW Cosmetics and the shade is called "Claw Your Way to the Top". Whew! that's a very long name for a shade haha. I love this blush because of many reasons:

1. it is very pigmented so I just need to use a very small amount of product each time

2. not only is it pigmented but its staying power is superb. this blush lasts me the whole day! (and I'm oily too)

3. this is a mineral makeup so all the benefits you can get from using a MMU is in this product: chemical free, preservative free, etc

4. this has no expiration date! I can stock up on this and I won't worry of them getting spoiled

5. very affordable since a whole full size pot can last me years! this sample pot is already nearing its 1st b-day and I still haven't finished it yet haha

6. it is matte..I can just add glows or highlighter on top if I want a shimmery blush unlike with shimmery blushes, I can't get a matte finish if I need one.

7. and last but not the least, I love the color! it is mauve-pink shade on the pot but after you applied it using a stippling brush, your cheeks will have the prettiest natural looking pinkish shade.

*Under flourescent lighting

*under natural lighting
I'm very excited about this contest because I was once a blush addict and I know the feeling whenever a certain shade of blush give our face the final glow it needs :)

Makeup/Skincare Daily Routine Tag + Award

I was tagged by Thiamere and Pammy. Thanks girls for thinking of me ^_^

Here's my daily routine:

SKINCARE

Every morning, after I take a bath, I will wash my face with The Face Shop Clean Acne Solution foam cleanser then I apply my acne toner and acne lotion. If I'm not going to use bb cream (that has SPF) as my foundation, I will apply sunblock first before my makeup.

At night, I will remove all my makeup and the dirts accumulated during the day using my Mandom Cleansing Express. Then I will proceed to washing my face and applying my acne toner, acne lotion, moisturizer and tretinoin.

I use Laneige strawberry yougurt peeling gel once a week. Usually every Sunday night after I wash my face.

MAKEUP

I will either use one of my mineral foundations (I use my Ellana Buffer brush in applying) or my bb cream of choice (I use my MAC 187SE). Then I will proceed to applying my finishing powder (my current fave is Ellana sheer velvet because it helps a lot in controlling my oiliness) using my buffer brush again and my blush (my default blush of choice is Meow firefly blush in Radiance) using my Lumiere stippling brush.

For the eyes, I can live with only a concealer, eyeliner and an eyelash curler. My eyeshadow depends on my mood for the day so I did not include it anymore and lately, I'm not putting any e/s on because I'm not in the mood. Anyways, I always apply a base on my lids (MAC painterly paintpot) then a concealer (SkinFood Salmon concealer) on my undereyes and then set it with a highlighting loose powder (Ellana Awake concealer). I then will apply my black eyeliner (Ellana Ethereal MPM) using a wet brush (I wet my eyeshadow with Aromaleigh eyeshadow/eyeliner sealant). I'll finish the look by curling my lashes.

I just use my Venus&Mars lip balm on my bare lips then apply the lipcolor of my choice (my fave lip tint is Ellana lipcolor in Sensual). During the day, I usually top it with Clearagen lip therapy to add some gloss and moisture.

And that's it! My everyday routine is very simple and basic. I only do eye makeup when I'm going out or whenever I feel like it so I don't consider it part of the daily routine.

Now....who will I tag? Hmmm..I know! I'm tagging YOU! I want to read about your daily ritual too. Please comment below if you did this tag so I can read your post..Till next time! Thank you for dropping by my blog. Bye!

oOo

I also got an award from a fellow girltalker and blogger. Thank you Lelila for these awards! ^_^

I have already finished doing the Kreativ Blogger so you can just check out my answers here :)