First Impression: Tarte Smooth Operator Tinted Moisturizer

Hello! It's Saturday again and I'm hoping all of you will have a great weekend..It's quite cloudy outside so do bring an umbrella if you're going outside :)

For today, I wanted to share my first impression on a product that I have just purchased -- Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer. This is my first ever item from Tarte Cosmetics because aside from the fact that we don't have this brand locally, I am actually just got attracted to it because of the rave the Amazonian Clay blushes received. I was debating whether to get this TM or their 12-hr wear foundation, but after a lot of research, I have settled into getting their TM because of the reviews it got.

I got mine for Php1,700 from Windy of StuffInStyle because she stocks US and UK brands regularly and the prices are really reasonable. I also had a smooth transaction with her (this is my first time buying from her) so I definitely recommend her website for those of you looking for brands like Urban Decay, Tarte, EOS, Korres, Stila, NYX, Wet&Wild, Sleek, etc.

Here's what it looked like:

I forgot to take a picture but it arrived with a secured bubble wrap to protect it from getting squeezed during the shipping. I really appreciated the thank you note too :)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: 

"This weightless formula is no lightweight: packed with skinvigorating™ ingredients this tinted moisturizer will keep skin looking and feeling naturally smooth." - From the Tarte website

Tarte is also very proud to be a 100% Cruelty and Vegan brand ^_^

For more info on the product, please check out and visit their website:

http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-smooth-operator-tinted-moisturizer

INGREDIENTS: 

CONTENT: 50ml/1.7 fl.oz.

MY SHADE: Agent 06 (Veil) - light skin w/ yellow undertones

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS:

I have only used this product 3x since I got it so I will still be posting a final review after I've used it for at least a month.

Here's a before & after picture of me wearing the tinted moisturizer and also how it looked after a couple of hours since application. I used a loose powder to set the TM because I have oily skin. I wore it outside and it was very hot that day so I was perspiring a lot. The last shot was taken without any retouching and I just used a tissue paper to blot my sweat before taking a picture.

(+)

- I liked the fact that it contains SPF 20 ...I'm not sure about the PA but at least it has a high SPF that is perfect for everyday use :)

- It is from a brand that is 100% cruelty free and vegan

- Feels very light on the skin. It feels like I'm not wearing anything on my face.

- Looks very natural. It blends well on the skin.

- This doesn't contain harmful chemicals like paraben, SLS, etc. Perfect for sensitive skins.

- Has a great shade system for everyone. Shade Agent 06 is a perfect match for me because it has the right amount of yellow undertone.

- It did not oxidized on me! This is the coolest part. I did try to get a shade lighter but I ended up getting an exact match with 06 so I was really worried at first but it ended well. It did not get dark and muddy on me unlike other foundation/BB Cream/ TM I used before.

- Doesn't cake even if you applied multiple layers and it still feels light on the skin even if you have 4 layers already which is kind of nice.

- I think this is great for any skin type. I currently have a skin asthma attack so some areas of my face are flaky and very dry and some are oily but this TM worked fine on all the areas of my face :)

- This haven't broken me out after 3 consecutive uses and hopefully it won't. I'll update you guys on that.

(-)

- this has a very sheer coverage. I've read somewhere that this is light to medium coverage but when I tried it, it just gives a sheer coverage.

- Not buildable coverage. I tried using my fingers on my first try and 2 kinds of brush on my next 2 tries and all 3 gave me light coverage. I tried applying more layers hoping it can give me at least a medium coverage but it stayed the same.

- It becomes itchy when I sweat a lot which is not uncommon for me but it irritates me when that happens. I'll try this again when my skin is not acting up so I can test this further.

OVER-ALL, I am still in the middle whether I am happy with my purchase or not. I like that it doesn't oxidize and it feels light on my skin but I want some coverage to cover my acne scars. I will try other methods to see whether I can achieve the effect I want just by using this.

I am also asking my sister to test it out too so she can give me her opinion and I can share them with you on my final review since we have different skin type -- she have dry sensitive skin and I have combination acne prone skin.

Have you guys tried using this Tarte Smooth Operator TM? Please share your thoughts and also your techniques on applying this product. I would really appreciate it. ^_^

Thank you for dropping by!

First Impressions & English Subbed Videos...

So it's been 2 weeks already since Faith and To The Beautiful You have aired. I would just like to share with you all my first impression of the dramas and also some links to the videos with great quality English subtitles :)

FAITH

I really have a high expectation with this drama because Lee Min Ho is in it and he is a great actor. After watching the first 4 episodes, I am so glad I am not disappointed. Aside from the fact that he looked good in his warrior attire, he also did not disappoint with his acting. I was hooked from the very beginning because it combined fantasy and period so it is quite new for me. I love the fact that some of the characters have magical powers too and the director did a great job on making them look real. The only thing I am kind of iffy about is the narration of the past event because they showed it in a cartoonized version.

Here are the subbed videos done by Kimchidramas. I love watching there because they sub fast and the quality is superb on both video and subtitle =)

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

TO THE BEAUTIFUL YOU (Hana Kimi Korean Version)

As I've said before, I am a fan of the manga where this is based and I am in love with the Japanese live action (the original version..I didn't like the remake) so I have a very high criteria. The Taiwanese version didn't met it a couple of years back and I was a bit iffy about this too coz Minho is not actually an actor so I'm not sure if he can do it properly. 

After watching the first 4 episodes, I am definitely glad I gave this one a chance. Sulli surpassed my expectation. I was worried she'd be too girly for the role but she really did a great job in acting as a boy. Her acting is good too so I will definitely be expecting more from her from now on. I am also happy with the actor who portrayed Nakatsu though. He fits the character perfectly! Although he is not as handsome as Ikuta Toma, he still were able to portray the role perfectly so I don't mind. Can't say much about Minho because all of his scenes rarely have dialogues and he always have that blank bored look. :)

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

WE GOT MARRIED (first airing after the London Olympics)

For this week's We got Married, they have introduced a new couple -- Kang Julien and Yoon Se Ah.

After watching episode 1, I really believe I will like them. I was getting tired of the WooJung couple lately so this new addition will be a fresh new start. They are both actors and Julien is a foreigner so it would be really interesting to watch how this older/mature couple will act. I think this will be more realistic because of them are old enough to look for a real partner :)

Links from Kshownow ^_^

Enjoy the videos! 

Thanks for dropping by!

Gale Reads: Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood

Hello everyone! I'm back from my long vacation. I'll try to upload a lot starting today coz I've accumulated a couple of posts that should've been up this week :)

I will start with a book review. Some of you know that I'm a fan of Julie Garwood since I was in high school (that's over 12 years!) and I collect her books. It is my dream to be able to collect all of her titles in hardbound versions as well as the first released covers of her historical romances. So you can really imagine how excited I am that she released a new contemporary title this August titled "Sweet Talk" and it was still connected in a way to the Buchanan clan. I'm glad I was able to get an ebook copy from my best friend so I can read it while I wait for the paperback version to arrive here in our shore.

GENRE: Romance, Contemporary

PLOT: (from Goodreads)

Attorney and IRS agent Olivia Mackenzie is the kind of tough, wise-cracking, powerful woman fans expect from a Garwood protagonist—but this time she has outdone herself. Olivia is not just any woman, she is every woman; flawed in the familiar ways so many of us are.

On the trail of an elaborate Ponzi scheme, one that threatens to ruin the lives of naïve and unsuspecting victims, Olivia suddenly finds her own life is in danger after she asks questions of the wrong people. She is accustomed to fighting for the underdog, but being vulnerable herself is a very different story. Smart enough to know when enough is enough, Olivia calls for reinforcements.

When she meets FBI Agent Grayson Kincaid there is an immediate and obvious attraction, palpable on both sides. Together they make an excellent team to fight corruption but Olivia is also fighting the immediate and intense attraction she feels for Agent Kincaid, and that may be a battle she is bound to lose.

COVER:

I love the cover! It fits perfectly to the description of Grayson Kincaid-- a very manly, smart, strong and skilled FBI agent. I am happy that they have decided to not include the whole face of the model as that would probably ruin it. I prefer imagining what he looked like so I can match him with the heroine. Love this cover! I'm giving it 5/5 ^_^

MY REVIEW:

I love this book! I loved how it showed Julie Garwood's trademark of putting an alpha-male leading man who is very masculine, smart and skilled together with a fiery, courageous and intelligent heroine. I love the fact that she continues to use this formula even after so many years because that's what attracted me the most to her books. As you know, I hated the damsel-in-distress whiny heroines the most and you can never find those on Garwood's books. There is also no love-triangles which is quite common to YA books which made me think that I am getting way too old for that genre haha.

This is a terrific story of two people who are both intelligent and knows what they want. They are both mature and the decisions and actions that they do are based on rationalizing and analyzing instead of basing it on impulse. This is also rooted in reality so this made me feel the story is real and I can relate to it more. I can see the events happening in real life and that made Julie Garwood a great story teller.

I guess the only negative thing I can say in this story is the fact that I feel it lacks more romantic interaction between the 2 main characters. Garwood showed how they are attracted physically to each other but I was hoping it would also show how much they love each other too. I think it lacks the depth of love I was hoping for and she was unable to portray those feelings to the readers. This seems to be more of a contemporary/investigative/suspense type of book rather than romance.  

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5 

If this only showed more "love" between the two main characters, I would definitely give this a 5. I'm a romantic at heart and I prefer to read a "I love you till death do us part" story that "I'm so in lust with you" moments haha ^_~

 

Anyway, Sweet talk is definitely a well crafted story that both have action and passion. I also liked the fact that this is still connected to the Buchanan's in a way and I can't wait to see if she will create a separate story for the other side characters mentioned in the book like the other 3 in the Pips squad or the other Buchanan brothers (Zach and Michael). Better yet, I would love to read a story about the 2nd generation of the Buchanans.

I definitely recommend this book :)

Thanks for dropping by!

Siwon & Donghae in Manila for Bench

Hello everyone! If you're a fan of Super Junior, then you already know that Siwon and Donghae were here in Manila yesterday for the event of Bench at Trinoma Activity Center. Sadly, I was unable to enter the contest held by Bench wherein I will get the chance to see them up close (near the stage) and therefore I was also not eligible for the raffle draw during the event where in the winners will have a chance to have autographed shirts or posters and take a picture with them..Although, come to think of it, how many raffle tickets should I have in the first place in order to be picked so that I can be part of it? According to the mechanics, for every Php1000 you buy from Bench, you'll get one raffle ticket and Bench will choose 700 people from there. I'm pretty sure those who won have more than 1 ticket each because the fans club of Super Junior is BIG and everyone wants a chance to shake the hands of Siwon and Donghae ^_^

Me and my sister just decided to go early to look for a spot to stay and watch them from afar since the Activity Center of Trinoma is open. We settled for Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on the 3rd floor because it faces the stage directly and we can relax until the event starts. I would have preferred my spot beside the stage on the 2nd floor escalator (That's where I stayed before when Kim Hyun Joong arrived for The Face Shop and it has a great view coz it's unobstructed) but my sister doesn't want to squat there the whole day (hay naku) so I gave in.

We arrived around 10:30am or at most 11am at Trinoma (It's late but my sis moves so slow!) and there were already a lot of people and we already don't have a table near the side rails (boo!). But we still found a good spot to stay, thank goodness. We had Roast Chicken and Mushroom Fustini pasta (this one is so good!) and my fave decaffeinated White Chocolate Dream Latte for brunch.

Here's the makeup I wore yesterday...I don't know why fans bothered to look very very nice (yeah, it's not just us who took care in what we look hehe) when we won't be seen by SiHae, but still there's hope! I decided to go with a "No Makeup makeup look" because I know I will get sweaty and I want my makeup to fade well just in case you know LOL.. I also wore my hair in a neat hairstyle (I braided my bangs and put it in a one side ponytail) so that I won't look wasted after I jumped up and down. It's successful! ^_^

FACE:
- Dreamworld Mineral foundation Mix (I have mixed a lot of shades hehe)
- Aromaleigh ultra-resolution finishing powder in Peaches and Cream 
- Pop beauty blush -- shimmery peachy-pink (can't remember the shade coz I transferred it on a different container when it got broken)

EYES:
- Tony Moly berry lovely girl tip concealer #1
- Christian Dior eyeshadows - nude and peach
- Tony Moly backstage eyeliner in Black

LIPS:

- Watson lipbalm in Wild Cherry (this gives a pretty red tint)
- H&M lipgloss in Sweet Cherry




THE CROWD:

Trinoma was jam-packed with fans on all 4 levels and anywhere you can see the stage. Here's some shots showing how many people went just to catch a glimpse of Siwon and Donghae ^_^

This is where I was located... (above photo)

View from the top and bottom

I think more than 5,000 people were there because on the inside of the reserved area alone there were already around 800-900 people including the 700 winners, Bench's staffs, security personnel media men, VIPs and medics.  And add the number of people around the ground floor and the other 3 floors where we have at least 3 lines from the side railings.

It was really a sight to remember and can you just imagine how loud it was when each one of us shouted at the top of our lungs? My bf and my sis' bf got shocked and irritated at the same time hehe


THE EVENT

They started the event with a raffle on who will get a chance to go up and shake hands with Siwon and Donghae.. I was really jealous coz they were able to hold their hands and have a picture taken and also get autographed stuffs :(

They entered in style and did their usual introduction as Super Junior ^_^

Then they had a Question and Answer portion with the MC. I am not sure if the translation is the same since there is no pause for the translator to give the MC the answer of SiHae before she says it in English...Nevertheless, I was still happy to see them in person and to hear their voices live ^_~

After the signing and picture taking, they said good bye to the fans. ..BUT the two of them came back with their own digital camera so that they can take a picture with everyone as the background! They also did fan service and sent us hearts and kisses before leaving the stage for good.  I really got teary eyed because of too much happiness ^_^

I hope they'll go and include Philippines in their lineup for the Super Show 5 ^_^


NOTE: Lee Min Ho is the next Bench model!!!

Movie Review: The Bourne Legacy

Hello everyone! I hope all of you had a relaxing weekend just like me. I've spent it bonding with my family -- We have decided to watch The Bourne Legacy in Trinoma cinema ^_^

I have watched the Jason Bourne series and I liked them. I'm not supposed to watch Bourne Legacy coz it's not Matt Damon anymore but since it was filmed here in the Philippines, I was really curious on what it looked like hehe...Yeah, I'm kinda weird like that but hey, I really am curious how Philippines is depicted in the film.

PLOT SUMMARY (wikipedia):

The Bourne Legacy is a 2012 American action thriller film and the fourth installment in the Bourne film series, which is based on Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels. It is directed by Tony Gilroy, screenwriter of the first three films.

The film uses the same title as The Bourne Legacy, a later Bourne novel written by Eric Van Lustbader, and like the previous three films in the franchise, it has a completely different plot from the eponymous novels.

CAST:

Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross

Rachel Weisz as Dr. Marta Shearing

Edward Norton as Eric Byer

(click here to see the list of the full cast & crew)

MY REVIEW:

Let's start with the good first. I loved the cinematography of the movie because they look so real and the images are crisp. It made me feel like I'm part of the scene and not a viewer. I especially love the special effects like the wolves and the overview of the snowy mountain of Alaska while Aaron Cross was travelling on foot. The action scenes are great too and they were executed beautifully by the casts. I also liked how they showed the different sides of Manila and the ending scene with Palawan (I'm not 100% sure it is Palawan but it looks like it) as the backdrop is gorgeous. I am so proud that we got to be showcased in an international film and we did not jinxed it. The local actors did a great job and I'm glad they decided to use credible actors as extras on the film :)

But on the side note, honestly, the The Bourne Identity Saga is way better. I liked the story a lot more and it has great pacing and have few/no dull moments, for me at least. I am not saying that the Bourne Legacy is a bad movie but it does not have that extra something to make it stand out for me. It didn't gave me any feeling of satisfaction and I doubt that this will leave a lasting impression on me. 

I feel the scenes are a bit rushed and it took me so long before I understood what's happening because it keeps on going back and forth from present to past. There is also no chemistry whatsoever on the lead characters. I didn't feel their relationship developing so it was kind of awkward when they hinted they "love" each other at the ending (on board the boat).

Lastly, this is the highlight and the reason why I watched this movie in the first place without reading any kind of movie review -- The scenes shot in the Philippines. It was so fun to watch these scenes because I keep on  trying to identify the places and also trying to hear the background chatter. My favorite scene was during the chase scene on the squatters' area wherein the policemen keeps on blowing their whistle while running after Rachel Weisz on the skinita. It reminded me of old Tagalog movies wherein all the policemen are blowing their pito and waving their batuta while running after the lead characters. It really made the whole scene funny to me. Also, I can't help but laugh out loud because you can clearly hear the extras cursing (the infamous P.I.) all throughout the movie tsk tsk. Oh, and have you noticed that they were able to pinpoint their location within 24 hours so easily and they used a SWAT team to enter the boarding house but regular policemen did the chasing? That is the big ? on my head while watching it.

The beta guy who are chasing them is really funny. Whatever he do, I can't stop but laugh just because he doesn't look like a tough guy who will kill and also his stunts look funny as hell (his death especially). I also can't believe they were able to shoot a chase scene with their motor bikes on the busy street of Manila. I really salute the director for making it look so real and yet at the same time execute it flawlessly. Thank you for choosing the Philippines as your setting.

RATING: 3/5

This film is entertaining enough and will be much appreciated by Filipinos just because..I just hated the cliff hanger ending and the slow movement of the story. Is there gonna be part 2? If it's not shot in Pinas anymore, I don't think I will watch it again. The casts are great in acting but I don't like how the film looked rushed and not at all serious.

Have you watched it yet? Share your thoughts on the comment section below! I would love to read what you thought about the movie ^_^

Thanks for dropping by!

Dramas I'm looking forward to watch this month ^_^

I'm back! Finally, the rain stopped and we already have a stable internet connection. I was unable to post much because I'm having intermittent sync since last week so I'm really happy it is more stable now ^_^

I wanted to share with you 3 new dramas that will start airing this month of August and that I would definitely watch them at Kimchidramas.net (hopefully they'll host these 3)...

1. When Love Walked In 

Main Characters:

Victoria Song of F(x) as Shen Ya Yin

Calvin Chen of Fahrenheit as Qing Yu Jiang

Zhou Mi of Super Junior-M as Lu Shang Ling

Episodes: 30

Airing Date: August 9, 2012 until Aug 23, 2012 ???

Broadcasting Network: GTV

Plot: 

Young, talented, and handsome Qing Yu Jiang (Calvin) receives orders to look for Chairman Yuan's long lost granddaughter, Shen Ya Yin (Victoria). Because of her parents' death, Ya Yin is bitter towards her grandfather. Yu Jiang not only eases the tension between them, but he gradually enters Ya Yin's heart. But when their love begins, Yu Jiang backs out because of his love for his childhood friend. Yu Jiang tries to find her, but fails to realize that she has been by his side all along.  

Teaser: 

Even though the plot reminds me of Romantic Princess (ironically, Calvin is also there), I will still watch this because of Victoria. This is her first acting stint and I wanted to support her and also see if she can really act. I also like Calvin so this will definitely be good. I just wish the one GTV will air will not be dubbed. This is produced by a mainland company and they wanted to create a standard accent for all the actors so that it can reach a lot of viewers. Majority of the casts are Taiwanese and does have different accents even if they are speaking Mandarin. So, yeah, I'm crossing my fingers on that one. I will post an update if I have found a subbing site for this drama already =)

2. To The Beautiful You

Main Characters:

Sulli of F(x) as Koo Jae Hee

Minho of SHINee as Kang Tae Joon

Lee Hyun Woo as Cha Eun Gyeol

Here's a picture of the other casts:

Episodes: 16

Broadcasting Network: SBS

Time Slot: Wednesday-Thursday

Airing Date: August 15, 2012

Plot:

Kang Tae-Joon (Minho) is a gold medalist in the high jump, but he has been mired in a slump due to an injury. In order to help her idol Kang Tae-Joon, a girl named Koo Jae-Hee (Sulli) disguises herself as a boy and transfers to his all male high school.  

Notes:

- This is based on a Japanese manga by "Hanazakari no Kimitachi E" (Hana Kimi) by Hisaya Nakajo.

- There have been a live action version by Japan and Taiwan before in 2007

- This is produced by SM Entertainment which is why a lot of SM artists are here

Teaser:

If you have read my first post on this drama, you will know that I was a bit iffy with the 2 lead roles because 1) I can't imagine Sulli looking like a guy (she's too cute and girly) and 2) I'm not sure Minho can act (although I guess he's the first choice because he's really athletic). Also, Hana Kimi is my favorite manga and the Japanese version is also my fave drama (I've watched that series more than a dozen times and each time I still laugh). I have very high expectations for this and I am hoping they won't butcher it up. Now, after saying that, you might be wondering, "why would she watch this?" Well, for the main part, it is curiosity. I would love to see it first and then judge it objectively (Just like what I did with Playful Kiss). I am happy with the way Sulli looked on the teaser photos and also this seems to be fun if I'll base it on the teaser. I'm really hoping I will like this Korean version too ^_^

 

3. Faith 

Main Characters:

Lee Min Ho as Choi Young

Kim Hee Seon as Yoo Eun Soo

Episodes: 24

Broadcasting Network: SBS

Time Slot: Monday - Tuesday

Airing Date: August 13, 2012

Plot:

"Faith" shows the love between a warrior from the Goryeo Period and a female doctor from the present day, their love transcending time and space. 

Trailer:

Okay, the main actor is Lee Min Ho and I think that's already enough reason to watch this drama. He is a great actor and I haven't been disappointed in any of his drama since Boys Over Flowers. I've watched them all and I've loved them deeply so I am happy to see him again. This is the first time he did a time travel genre (historical) and basing on the trailer it also have some actions. I love him in City Hunter and I believe he looks best on action films. SO yeah, so happy this is gonna air soon ^_^

What about you guys? Are you also excited to see these dramas? Feel free to check back here in my blog coz I will be posting the first episodes with English subtitle once they are released :)

Thanks for dropping by!

After the week long "Habagat Attack"

Hello everyone! I hope all of you and your love ones are safe after this week long raining that happened. The worst happened last August 7 and I am so sad seeing all the news about the affected areas (and that was a lot worse than when Ondoy hit3 years ago) and to think there's no typhoon!

I am lucky that our house is located at a high point in our subdivision and so we were not reached by the floods (we just became an island coz all the exits around our street were flooded) but a lot of my friends are not so lucky. I was actually so worried for my boyfriend who was all alone in their house that have no second floor (just an open rooftop). I can't go to him and help because their place got submerged with flood water so quickly and there's no way any kind of vehicle can pass through. Luckily, he was able to bring a lot of their important stuff and his pets on their rooftop before the flood reached their house. I am also thankful to God that the water didn't go up too much and reach the rooftop because he would have no where to go since he's already on the roof. 

I was able to get him this morning and he is now living with his cousin so I know he is safe. I asked him to transfer residences even though it is not raining hard anymore because there's news from PAGASA this morning that it will still rain hard until Saturday (although I hope they are wrong) and the continues hard rain since 12am this morning scared us so much. Also, they still don't have electricity and the place is dirty after the water receded so it's better to stay on a clean place for the meantime.

God is good because He made the rain stop for a couple of hours already and I can see clear sky now. This will help the flooded areas and the dams to have enough time for the water to lower down so that when it does rain later it will not be too high..Better yet, I hope and pray the sun will shine all day long ^_^

A lot of places are affected and are in dire need of food, water and other essential stuff like clothes and blankets. If you wanted to donate, you can check out these places.

1. Claud Baron - (a Girltalker) owner of Cha Dao Tea Place started a drive and used some of her branches as drop off points for relief goods.

2. CARA Phils - Have started a relief drive for both humans and pets..They are in need of volunteers and also donations.

3. Different organizations like:

Philippine Red Cross

Sagip Kapamilya

I hope we can help a lot of people during this time of need. Just make sure that you are donating to legit organizations and that the goods you are giving will reach the families. This is the reason why I prefer to give in private organizations rather than the government ones because I saw during Ondoy that they can't do a proper job in distributing. This is just my personal opinion.

Thank you for dropping by and keep safe!

DIY: Face, Body and Scalp scrub - All natural

Hello everyone! Do you like having smooth soft skin but doing it without breaking the bank and minus all the chemicals? Well, if you're interested to know how, continue reading this blog post :)

This recipe is very famous online because it is very effective and the ingredients can easily be found on your kitchen. Here are the things you'll need:

- Brown sugar

- Honey (organic is better)

- Extra Virgin Olive Oil

- Tea tree Oil (Optional)

- A small bowl

- Spoon

- Empty Container for storage

What to do:

1. In a bowl, put 1 to 1.5 tbsp brown sugar -- the amount will depend on how many "beads" you want on your scrub. Brown sugar is a very good exfoliator because it is not harsh on the skin.

2. Add in 1 tbsp of EVOO. Olive Oil is great because it will give moisture to the skin but without clogging your pores.

3. Add in the honey for that antibacterial and calming effect. I put the EVOO first so that the honey will just slide off the spoon. Otherwise, it would be hard to remove all the honey.

4. You can also add a couple of drops of tea tree oil if you have breakouts. 

5. Mix everything together and put it on a container. You can store this if you haven't used everything up.

6. Get some scrub and gently scrub your face and neck in light circular motions. You can also use this on your body and scalp.

Note: scrub your scalp and not your hair.

7. Rinse with warm water. Pat dry.

Note: you can also wash after if you feel oily.

You can do this once or twice a week. It will really leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft. I tried it on my scalp the other day and it helped clarify it so that my hair won't look limp. 

PROS:

- all natural ingredients 

- very easy to make and cheap

- makes skin soft and smooth

- not harsh on the skin so can be used twice a week

- multipurpose scrub - for face, neck, body and scalp

CONS

- Can leave a thin film of oil -- it's okay for the body but it's not good on the hair coz it can weigh it down

If you tried this at home, please do leave a comment below and tell me how it went. Hope everyone will ave a nice time pampering yourselves ^_^

Thanks for dropping by!