Cheap Thrill: Nichido Lip Blush

NICHIDO Lip Blush with Vitamin E

I super love lip balms.  I love how they keep my chapped lips moisturized.  I simply can't live without a nice , decent moisturizing balm to prep my lips.  But wouldn't it be great if there's a balm that could actually moisturize well, gives a hint of color and doesn't cost much.

Last week, while browsing through the beauty aisles of SM Makati, I saw this new lip balm from Nichido.  I got pretty excited because it reminded me of Nyx Color Lip Balm.  The packaging was quite similar. Though I haven't tried the Nyx Color lip balm , I couldn't really compare them and say it's a dupe for it. What made me even more delighted was the price tag. Only P88 for a 3.5g lip balm.  Since testers were newly opened, I tried them on .  Whoaaa!  It smelled like bubble gum.  Glided on smoothly like butter and left a hint of pinky shade (just bitten lips shade). Can definitely be worn alone. It was gorgeous and it surprisingly kept my lips moisturized without the heavy and sticky feel. BONUS: Enriched with Vitamin E.  

Left: Sweet Dream (light pink)
Right: Prom Queen (fuchsia pink)

I only grabbed 2 shades --- Sweet Dream and Prom Queen. (I think there are 5 shades available) But since I'm so happy with it I'll be getting the other shade that is on the peachy pink shade.  A good buy :)  Grab it now lovelies :)  

P.S.  Who said that only expensive brands could gives us nicely moisturized lips???  Now these new babies are a staple in my kit.  

Cheap Thrill: Shawill Blushers

One of my favorite past time or rather ME TIME is to go on make up window shopping.  I'm like in a candy store whenever I'm in the beauty section of a department store.  I never get tired of looking around on what to buy next.  Since I already have a vast collection of make up, I sometimes feel bad going home empty handed because I couldn't find anything to buy anymore.  I have this incurable disease that I have to at least buy something when I go out. The first thing that always catches my eye on trying out other brands are their blushers.  Always in the lookout of nice colored blushes.  

  Left:  Shawill Collagen Rosy Touch Blusher in 003; P163 (Mauve)
 Right:  Shawill  Fascinating Radiance Blusher in 05 ; P138 (Pinky Peach)

 

SHAWILL is a local brand.  They have a wide selection of blushers. When I asked the SA where it is made from, she just said  "raw materials are from ITALY". (meaning made from China).  What the heck, I still grabbed 2 of their blushers. Lately, been reading alot of blogs and product reviews on local makeup brands. Since I'm addicted to make up (regardless of the brand ---as long as it is worth trying out, I give it a go). And according to beauty gurus and beauty bloggers, Shawill blushers have good pigmentation. 

Aren't they pretty?!
Nice mauvey and pinky peach blush...

  Left:  Shawill Collagen Rosy Touch Blusher in 003 ; P163 (Mauve)
 Right:  Shawill  Fascinating Radiance Blusher in 05; P138 (Pinky Peach)

 Packaging:  

Expiry date indicated on the side of the box

SWATCH:

Left: Shawill  Fascinating Radiance Blusher in 05 (Pinky peach)
Right: Shawill Collagen Rosy Touch Blusher in 003 (Mauve)    

MY VERDICT:

Pros:

-  affordable

- good pigmentation

- variety of shades to choose from

- texture of Collagen Rosy Touch Blusher  -  smooth, silky and blends well

- no breakout

Cons: 

- texture of Fascinating Radiance blusher is powdery 

( TIP: DO NOT swirl the brush on the powder BUT a lightly handed TAP motion would do the trick)

- has a tendency of fall outs during application

- made in CHINA ( for *some this is a big NO NO) 

When trying out new products, I have learned to research on product reviews so as I wouldn't waste money on stuff that I may already have and may spend on make up that may be too expensive and not perform well. I recommend Shawill blushers. For those in a budget, this one is a GO! I can't wait to try their beige blushers. :) 

Cheap Thrill: Fluffy Fan Brush

Fan Brush is A MUST !

I got excited when I saw this big, fluffy fan brush in Landmark (P44.75).  Many of us think that among all the make up brushes we own, the fan brush is the least reached out for.  This is basically used at the end of a make up routine to dust off excess powder.  Well, I say I've found a treasure on this unique fan brush.  I've more ways than one on how to make this baby a MUST HAVE!!!!

Top View: Thicker hair bristles than the usual fan brushes

Side View: Fluffy but not so dense

A short video (my first so please bear with me lovelies...) to show how to use this fan brush in different ways.

BLUSH:

 - great use with heavily pigmented and bright blushes

- gives a nice sheer wash of color 

BRONZER / CONTOUR:

- gives right amount of dimension to the face 

without the heavy look of contouring

HIGHLIGHTER:

- lightly highlights the face

- great use with shimmery highlighters to avoid looking

too shiny or a disco ball

Products Used:

Fan Brush (landmark ; P44.75)
L-R:  Etude Face Designing Brightener, Red Earth Cheeky Flirt blush
and Red Earth Essential Glowing Beauty Powder in Sunshine Beauty 

Finished Look:

Lightly flushed cheeks with minimal contouring

DAY Make up : A flush from within

Since this entry has my first video, I enjoyed it!  I still have to work on it though :) If there's any request that you lovelies want me to do a review on, feel free to chit chat :)))

LUCAS' PAPAW Ointment

A GREAT FIND!

LUCAS' PAPAW Ointment

Claim:

A local topical application for boils, burns, chaffing,

cuts, cracked skin, gravel rash, splinters, open wounds, insect bites 

and nappy rash.

The ointment helps to relieve and cleanse

Contains:

Potassium Sorbate 0.1 mg/g as Preservative

            Online shopping is the BEST! NO time limit in checking out products we want to buy. Though it usually breaks our budget.  However, online shopping is more entertaining and more genius because US shoppers is just a click away in getting feed backs or reviews of products that we want to purchase.  I've been a compulsive buyer and still am but I get to buy smartly now.  I browse and research first on product reviews if it would be a good investment or not.  Especially if we are buying skin care products and cosmetics which are very delicate.  

              

           One of my TOP shopping online haven, digital traincase, has been selling this ointment for quite sometime and it was always SOLD OUT.  Thinking that what can this ointment do for me.  I was hesitant at first because it is P450 for a tube 25g NET.  Despite the price, it was always SOLD OUT.  Intrigued I was, checked reviews and finally convinced to give it a try.

                

              It is a family's favorite, especially my youngest daughter Celine. She would always reach out for this whenever she has skin boo boos. When she had rashes from summer, I applied it once a day on her rashes for 2 days. On the 3rd day it started fading. As for me I  had blisters from wearing high heels and it instantly relieved and soothe.  When my husband got an open wound ,he used it as first aid.(He was skeptical about this since it is a bit pricey.  Now, he reaches for it endlessly !)  Another use for this is for itchy insect bites, once applied , itch is gone. I also use it as a lip balm and helped my dry lips from getting worse. It does quicly heals any minor skin conditions.   OOOHHHH!!! I love this product. I would want to get another tube or rather the tub 200 mg.  It works really well.  Glad I tried it!

            

           Consistency is not too thick. It's like medicated petroleum jelly that works wonders for minor skin disorders.  It is well deserved for all the raves from people who have tried it :) Don't think twice in grabbing this LUCAS' PAPAW Ointment. A life saver I say ....

What do you think dearies?  

Models Own Hot Pink

I owe it all to my endless obsession with Mac's Candy Yum Yum.  I was one of those unfortunate who had my hands on with CYY dupes BEFORE I got the real thing.  But I say, searching for dupes was extremely exciting and fun because I was able to discover different good make up brands that I haven't came across with.  So glad that the online shop that I got one of my dupes for CYY carries a new breed of quality cosmetics from UK. MODELS OWN... I think it's been around for quite sometime but since it is not available locally, I was delighted to have tried it. I got it only for P350. :)  It was definitely a good buy.

Models Own Hot Pink P350

The texture was really creamy and blendable.  Pigmentation was nearly opaque and buildable.  Lasted for 4 hours and it stained my lips a bit. It was NOT drying to the lips.  Good quality for a low priced lippie:)

Loved how the blue undertone instantly brightened my face :)
Perfect To-GO look

NICELY PINKY

Lovelies, have you tried Models Own products? Lemme know what other Models Own make up worth keeping :)

MAC Candy Yum Yum Dupe(S)

Mac Candy Yum Yum

Think BRIGHT and NEON Pink. Mac's infamous Candy Yum Yum  is on the top of my list.  Ever since Mac came out with their Quite Cute Collection last Spring of April 2011, I couldn't stop admiring  how gorgeous CYY is.  Unluckily when it was launched here in the Philippines that time, I  wasn't able to grab at least one CYY ( as I was thinking of hoarding at least 3 tubes of this since it will be available only for a limited time).  It was my first time to really feel bad not having Mac's ultimate Pink lippie ever launched. Been crazily searching online especially on ebay.  I was close to buying a $70 worth of CYY from an online seller.  But then, I had to stop myself from being that impulsive, obsessed junkie I am.

Can you tell which lippie from the other?????

Browsing through the net, was able to read a lot of reviews that helped me find the closest dupe. So glad that  some of them are already in my stash :).  I didn't mind finding every single dupe for me to satisfy my craving for CYY.  And TADA! I've searched everywhere to find Barry M  Shocking Pink which was claimed CLOSEST dupe .  Thanks to makeuphub ! (that's their new site now - used to sell Barry M) and another was given to me by OLGA (nephew's girlfriend).  I was so thrilled to have all the dupes BUT still distressed that I don't have the REAL thing :(  And so, this was the start of a fun journey in finding all possible twinette for CYY.  (this meant trying out all pink lippies from local to international brands ----SHOPPING !!!!)

With Flash

L-R:  Stila  longwear lip color in Exhilarating,  Maybelline Fuchsia Fever, Milani in Rosehip, Barry M  52 Shocking Pink,
Wet & Wild 511B Nouveau Pink, Lime Crime Countessa Flourescent,  NYX Matte lipstick in Shocking Pink,
Nyx Black Label in Hot Pink and Model's Own Hot Pink

Natural light

Can you tell how seriously obsessed I was??? They may all look similar in shade but they differ from texture and finish.  Some are matte and long wearing, some are opaque and others are sheer and glossy.  I love them to bits.  True to what other beauty junkies claimed --- Barry M is the closest dupe because the have both matte finish, opaque and long wearing.  CYY only differs in a bit for it's NEON factor. Barry M appears a bit darker than CYY and bit drying on the lips. Lime Crime for me is also a nice dupe:)

This post is way past OVER DUE!  It was my intent to post this last year before I had the real Holy Grail of Hot Pink lippie  Mac CANDY YUM YUM.  These babies were all I have but surprisingly it was again launched last year around August 2012 for the Mac's BY REQUEST ( online voting on which one to  be relaunched of who gets the highest votes.)  See my separate review on CYY.

Does anyone have other dupes that I haven't tried?  Please share it lovelies, can't wait to grab them too and add it on to my stash.... 

Mother's Day 2012 FOTD

I went for Classic Red Lips look for this year's Mother's day!  I don't know but I felt that wearing this look for this special day made me feel extra special.  I simply adore how red lips could instantly transform one's look from ordinary to glam gorgeous.  However, I don't normally wear this look  because I might look too made up for those simply ordinary days.

Lovelies, if going for this classic look, it is important to keep the rest of the face neutral .  You wouldn't want to look clownish if it will be paired with either super dark eye shadow or  with super bright cheeky blush.    However, a good smokey eyes could also be paired with red lips but it is best worn night time.  Perfectly lined brows and lined eyes is the way to go.  For this look, I used neutral eye shadow just lightly enough to contour my eyes.  For my blush, I used a warm red powder blush  --- just to add warmth and balanced look to my fair skin.  (used Mac blush in Scarlet).  I used a very light hand on the blush to avoid the clownish look.  Prior to the blush, I first contoured my cheeks with a matte bronzer.  Then added highlighter on top of my cheekbones to add some sheen.  Wanted to add a touch of dewy -ness to the finished look.  For the lips, I used NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam.  Loved how it smoothly glided on my lips. It was matte but did not dried up my lips....

Products used:

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam and Mac blush in Scarlet

I really love this look, just thought of sharing it :)  

Happy Mom's day to all lovelies :)