Baby-Smooth Lips in Less Than 10 mins

Kikays, give love to your lips! Especially this time of the year that weather is a bit chilly. Notice that your lips tend to dry and flake when it's cold. On the other hand, since summer is just a few weeks away, our lips also need to be protected against the drying effects of the sun. 

It's known that the ingredients I have below have lip conditioning properties but let me share to you my own remedy for dry/chapped lips:

What you'll need: 

• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon petroleum jelly (honey is a great alternative!)
• A few drops of extra virgin olive oil (you may also use coconut oil)
• lip balm of your choice 
• 1 small container

Directions: 

• On a saucer, mix 1/2 teaspoon of petroleum jelly with 2 teaspoons of brown sugar. Brown sugar crystals can gently buff away dry flakes while petroleum jelly is the number one recommended treatment for chapped lips.

 

• Add more brown sugar to your mixture if you want more exfoliating properties.

 

• Add a few drops of extra virgin olive oil and mix well.  EVOO has vitamin E which is of course good for our skin. It is extremely moisturizing, too.

 

• Transfer the mixture to a small container (Shelf life: 1-2 weeks). Take your favorite lip balm and get your lips ready for some lovin'! 

How to use: 

Take a dime size amount of mixture and gently rub onto your lips.  Leave for a minute or two, rub gently again, and rinse thoroughly. Apply your favorite lip balm to lock in moisture. Use once or twice a week and your lips will thank you.

Why buy lip scrubs if you can make one, right? I know it could be tempting to buy those cute looking tubs on The Body Shop or Lush, but trust me, they almost have the same ingredients as the homemade ones. Take note that those in beauty shelves can be scented, too! Scented lip products are amazing but I'd pass if it's a lip exfoliator. Our lips need a break :) 

'til our next DIY! Stay wise and beautiful. God bless!

Review: LA Colors Lipsticks

Hi Kikays! Here's my attempt to review my latest fab finds: LA Colors Lipstick in Pink Parfait and Matte Amethyst.
I often overlook this brand whenever I'm in department stores. 

Majority's usual perception is: if it's dirt cheap, quality is blah. As a self-proclaimed bargain-hunter,  I always pay attention to "dirt-cheap" items. They maybe on shelves, racks, sidewalk mats or glass cabinets. LA Colors Cosmetics has crazy cheap selections. You can fill your makeup bag for below P500! But as far as lippies go, you will not sacrifice quality. 

I was really looking for Wet 'n' Wild lippies that afternoon when gorgeous shades of LA Colors lipstick caught my eye. Then I fell in love with two colors. First is in Pink Parfait: 

The saleslady said "Ma'am mabili yan, Nicki Minaj ang peg mo." Kaloka si atey. I loved how she can identify who often sports at least the "major" shades. Yung isang red, si Kat Von D daw ang peg ko dun pag binili ko. 

This pink is not a joke. Just when you think you cant get anymore pink lipsticks, then bam!
The saleslady was right, this is Nicki Minaj pink. I know it may not be appropriate for office makeup look but kebs. My colleague said I have neon lips with this on. Haha

Highlights: Can be a dupe for MAC Pink Nouveau, consistency is like NYX round lipsticks

Longevity: Lasts for approx. 4 hours. You need to retouch within the day (or night)

Consistency and Pigmentation: It's a pale pink color, almost Barbie pink, that glides on smoothly on your lips. Very moisturizing, too! 

Others: I like that it smells like marshmallow. As for the packaging, the bullet is retracted way too high that if you're in a hurry, the bullet might hit the end of the cap. 

This shade up here is Matte Amethyst. That's my office mate Gee modelling the lippie (thanks Gee!). 

Wear this shade if you want something unusual on normal days. Just make sure you wear with just polished brows, and very subtle eye makeup. 

Highlights: This color is very unique and beautiful in every aspect. I'm not even kidding! On the packaging, it says it has Vitamin E and Aloe Vera

Longevity: Long lasting. Just a few touch ups after 4 hours as color tend to stay more on the center of your lips

Consistency and Pigmentation: It says it's matte, but it's actually creamy and you can even wear it without a lipbalm. Like the name suggests, it's an amethyst color. It actually depends on the color of your lips on how it'll look like. With mine on, it's a plummy color which doesn't shout "I'm wearing purple lipstick!"

Others: Just like Pink Parfait and other shades on this line, you'll love the unique contour tip of the bullet made for a more precise application

More swatches: 

With flash
Up: Pink Parfait | Down: Matte Amethyst

Without flash
Up: Pink Parfait | Down: Matte Amethyst

and the best part is, it's only P99 each! 

LA Colors Cosmetics is available in SM Department Stores (Watson's Section) and some Watson's independent stores 

January 2013 Instagram Photos

I love Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus - and yes, I give random names for my cup just like that. Sometimes it's Liberty. Or Meredith. Hehehe

My fave hand creams! Smells amazing and very moisturizing. Bonus is that it's 2 for P59!

Currently addicted to Bibingkinitan's Kapeng Barako and Bibingka <3 I can have this pair every single day. P50 for both.

My first order on ebay.com.ph: e.l.f.'s Studio Blush in Pink Passion (P198). e.l.f. counters here in the Philippines don't carry this shade. If you're a fan of e.l.f. blushes, this eBay seller has more shades available!  

Two things: 1. It's Suesh 2. It's at Market! Market! 

My best friend's 25th! Hulaan niyo magkano denim jacket ko hihi #ukayfinds

I bring food in the office. Sad that there are no restos in McKinley which carry "healthy" & affordable menu, so.. 

Addicted to white onions! I was very happy when I saw this dispenser at S&R. Hoping that fast food joints can have this 

Tumo-throwback Thursday

My own version of Cafe Mocha. Yummerz

I'm in love :) 

The caption says it all. Would you believe that I got this pair of aviators for P50? Same price as my denim jacket above. Hihi 

Instagram: @resilog

Two Pairs Are Better Than One

Yesterday I realized that I don't have a Christmas gift for myself yet. I wanted a pair of shoes, possibly those wacky heel-less which are often sported by Lady Gaga:

Image from beccamulwa.blogspot.com/2012/07/heel-less-shoes.html

but I might trip with these on. I also thought of getting spike heels hahaha kalurky baka kelangan pa ng lisensya mga 'to:

Image from http://www.styleitlight.com/catwalk-copies-christian-louboutin-heels-vs-chockers-celine-heels

No doubt that they're fancy and gorgeous, but do I really need these? Okay, what I need is a pair which can be worn in the office, gatherings or if I decide to wear heels during the weekend (I'm a tsinelas/sneakers type of girl when not at work).

So I thought of going to 168 mall (Divisoria) coz there's a shoe outlet there that sells affordable and unique pairs. They have almost the same style as Primadonna and SM Parisian's. Let me get back to this entry about that boutique's stall number. 

What I don't like about 168 mall is that they close too early. You really have to go there in the morning if you want to raid most of the stalls. So I had to drag my bargain-hunting feet to other place in Divi which is still open at 8PM. Naalala ko may bagong bukas pala na mall sa Binondo which is Lucky Chinatown Mall. You can walk from 168 to LCM. They close at 10PM! 

When I reached LCM, my eyes sparkled when I saw the sign at Jellybean LCM branch that says "Buy 1 Get 1". Jellybean Philippines is the sister company of Folded&Hung. This is one of their ongoing promos:

Image from http://www.ilovejellybean.com/

Usually, items on sale on concept stores are those with broken sizes or display items that were fitted by shoppers. What I loved about Jellybean is aside from the fact that designs were unique and vibrant, they had new stocks in my size!

Up: Crisscross Aztec Platforms | Down: Red Suede Platforms

Aztec ones were priced around P1200 while the red ones were around P1400. Their "Buy 1 Get 1" deal was to pay for the higher priced item but you can get another one with the same price or lower. 

They're gorgeous yet "wearable" don't you think? =) Plus, they're surprisingly very comfy too! If you're new to wearing heels, I suggest you get the platform types like these instead of a pair with pointed heels. You can walk comfortably with the former. I'm a happy camper indeed! Visit Jellybean outlets on the following branches to check out their items for sale:

Image from http://www.ilovejellybean.com/

Olive Oil, Baby Wipes and Pond's Cold Cream as Makeup Removers

Hi Kikays! So this is my first entry on this blog.. and it's about, makeup removers. Yes, instead of creating a post about cosmetics (which is the main theme of this blog), I found myself blogging about my favorite makeup removers. Coz I'm random like that. Hehe

Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Watson's fresh baby wipes & Pond's cold cream

As a makeup junkie, I need good products to take away all the gunk on my face at the end of the day to avoid breakout on my acne prone skin. Above are the ones I use depending on the amount of makeup I wear. Uh-huh, the little guy there that is most seen in kitchen pantries is a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I learned about the wonders of EVOO from Michelle Phan, a makeup guru on YouTube. 

 A bottle costs from P120 to P150 and will take you less than a year to finish. I use this with a cotton pad to remove eye makeup. It's natural, very moisturizing and it doesn't have a pungent smell. I have a serious problem with my under eye area (dry and puffy) so this product is perfect. It may not reduce the puffiness, but it's delicate and moisturizing.  It can remove pigmented lipstick, too! Google other ways to use this and you'll be surprised that it's not only reliable in your cooking needs.

I cannot leave without wet wipes. There's nothing special about this one but I like the fact that it does the job while being affordable. I use one sheet all over my face. You can get three of these for P100 at Watsons. That's like P33 for a pack with 20 sheets. On the label it says: ultra mild, alcohol-free, hypoallergenic, contains aloe vera and vitamin E. This may not remove all the makeup on the days I'm fully made up hence I rely on EVOO or Pond's cold cream:

 This classic beauty essential that most of our mothers and grandmothers use is a good makeup remover while leaving skin soft and moisturized.  It removes stubborn eye makeup and even waterproof mascara. The goal is lather small amount on eyelids and under eye area, leave it for at least a minute, then wipe off using a cotton pad. It gently removes facial makeup, too. Ponds facial products used to trigger acne on my face but I'm surpirsed that this recent find does wonders! A tub of 100 ml costs around P130-P140.

What do you use as a makeup remover? Remember that good stuff need not to be expensive =)