EB Advance Blush Duo Review: Golden Goddess

Ever since I learned about contouring, I have been so obsessed in finding the right contouring products on the market. Though I know some great products out there that are highly recommended by makeup artists and beauty bloggers here in the Philippines and abroad they are quite expensive. Even if I want to have those, I honestly don't have the budget to spare. Anything beyond 300 is way too much for me. 

So, I have been on the hunt for the most affordable brands available here in the Philippines for contouring powders.

Whenever I go around department stores, I always look for products that are sold at a discounted price. However, it's a matter of hit and miss on these items.

Ever Bilena is one of my trusted local drugstore cosmetics here in the Philippines.  And every time I go to their stalls to check new products, all I can say is that they are really stepping up their game in cosmetics. Which is really great, because their products are both effective and affordable, which is good for people like me who are mostly on a tight budget but don't want to compromise the quality of the product we use, specially on our skin. This will also give more options to consumers.

For months I have been eyeing on their new product called "EB Advance Blush Duo" in the shade Golden Goddess. 

This blush and bronzer duo comes in 4 shades that will compliment every skintone. Shades are Baked Fig which is like a plum shade(for the blush) and the bronzer is more like a light brown shade. Golden Goddess (the one I have) in which the blush is more of a pinky-peach color with gold shimmer to it, bronzer looks the same with baked fig. Next is Rosy Chic this blush shade is like old rose in color, bronzer is more on a deeper brown shade. Lastly, Summer Fling, this is an orange shade of blush, bronzer same as rosy chic.

Box packaging front

Box packaging back

This product cost Php220.00 and are available in most Watsons, SM Department stores and other leading drugstore and supermarkets.

I chose Golden Goddess among the 4 shades because I have heard in other beauty bloggers that the blush in this shade is like a dupe for a Nars Blush in Orgasm. And I have been so curious on what it looks like. I can't really compare the two since I don't have a Nars blush(too pricey), but If the famous beauty blogger says it is a dupe for this then I believe her. :)

So this is what it looks like from the inside. There is also a good sized of mirror inside which is as big as the cover, and a small brush applicator. Though I use a different brush to do the job. 

The first time I used it, I find the contour powder too powdery, as when I dipped my slanted brush in, there were a lot of excess falling out and are not sticking on the brush. Bronzer is matte though, and the shade is just right for my skin tone, it doesn't look like a dirty smudge on my face too. The blush however, is more compact. Though since there are gold flecks on the blush that makes it shimmery, when I applied it on my cheeks it kind of highlighted the apples of my cheeks which gives me that nice glow but unluckily showing my pores too(oh no!) But I really like the shade. These powders are also quite blendable. Maybe I should use a full coverage foundation to hide my pores if I'm gonna use this blush. I'm gonna try to use this as a highlighter too, but sparingly because this blush is highly pigmented.  We'll see. (Experiment time for me.)

The brush applicator included is not too coarse but not too soft either, also it sheds, like a lot. So I don't really recommend using the brush.

Here are the swatches. If you will notice, when I use the camera flash of my phone the contouring powder doesn't really show, because it's too light. And for the photo w/o flash I kinda needed to find the right angle for the color to show.

As you can see the blush really shimmer in gold. They really pack on the gold in Golden Goddess.

Pros:

-affordable for a blush and bronzer duo

-highly pigmented

-easy to blend

-it doesn't have any annoying scent.

Cons:

-bronzer is a little bit crumbly

-blush is not suitable for skin with very obvious pores(like mine)

Overall, I like this Blush Duo and I want to try the other shades they have except Summer Fling, because I'm not really into orange shades. If I'm not mistaken, only Golden Goddess is the shimmery one and the rest are matte. (Comment if I'm wrong)

That's all folks. Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer: Product review is based on blogger's personal experience and opinion. Product satisfaction and effectiveness may vary on users skin tone, skin type and preference. 

iWhite Korea BB. HOLIC Everyday BB Cream Review

There are days when you just don't feel like putting on a ton of makeup on our face but you still want to correct some minor imperfections on your skin and get that youthful glow. Good thing cosmetic brands created BB cream (Blemish Balm) which gives you enough coverage without the heavy feeling on your skin and like all other BB creams on the market they claim that this product does more than just give you coverage.

So I was going around SM department store (I can't remember where exactly) because I was looking for iWhite products specifically their 2 minute whitening miracle face mask and came across their new product. The BB.HOLIC EVERYDAY BB CREAM. (see photo below) They only have 2 shades which is BEIGE and LIGHT. Also they only sell these in sachets and are sold for only Php24.50/4ml. Packaging can also be split into 2 separate packs.

This is what the packaging looks like.

Here is what's written on the back:

iWhite Korea BB.Holic Beige/Light is a multi-tasking BB Cream that provides several makeup and skincare benefits. It is perfect for everyday use as it is infused with over 10 plant extracts to ensure that your skin is taken care of while looking refreshingly beautiful.

BB.Holic instantly perfects your complexion, provides natural coverage and protection while is nourishes and enhances your skin through its Aroma Herb Complex formulation. It is also infused with active lightening and anti-aging properties to give you multiple benefits from a single application.

iWhite Korea's BB.Holic is brought to you to prove that an effective and quality product can be affordable.

Directions for use: On a clean skin, apply and spread appropriate amount based on your desired coverage. This product can be worn alone or it can sit perfectly under foundation or setting powder.

Ingredients are listed below the product description which is a lot.

So here are the swatches I made at the back of my hand.

With camera flash

Without camera flash

   

As you can see the Beige is really darker than the Light shade. My first purchase was Beige, because for years I have always been comfortable with that kind of shade. However, I am now using iWhite's whitening products so it made my skin a little lighter. So when I tried Beige for the first time it was really dark on me. So on my next purchase I decided to go with Light. At first I mixed the 2 shades to see if it will be better on my skintone. It kinda worked but the next time I used this I use Light alone and it was so much better. Guess I'm on the lighter side now. :)

The Light shade however has a pink or peach undertone to it, and I was hoping for a more yellow undertone.  Beige on the other hand is a little bronze in my opinion.

This BB cream also have this distinct smell to it. I'm sensitive to scents specially in makeup, this one has this lotiony-herbal smell to it. It doesn't bother me at all, but it may not be the same for others.

It has light to medium coverage. But you can add more product until you reach your desired coverage.

It's does have a little bit of sticky feel to it but it can be managed if you set it with powder.

I haven't tried using this under foundation as it already gave me coverage I needed.

For gals like me who have oily skin, this will not keep those nasty sebum at bay, so I suggest you put on a mattifying primer or powder before and after applying this product. Also, have some blotting paper handy too.

Since this product is sold in sachets, expect that it will be messy if you plan to bring it around, though this is good if let's say you will travel and you really don't need too much make up this is good specially if you want to travel light. But for me I decided to put it in small pots so it won't spill.

Here is what they look like blended on the skin. (I used the back of my hand, my face looks terrible now but will make a YouTube video of this review soon)

Without camera flash

With camera flash

Pros:
-Affordable for only Php24.50
-buildable coverage
-easy to blend
-gives that dewy glow(if not set with powder)
-it has moisturizing effects.

Cons:
-it has a little bit of a sticky feel
-It only has 22 shades available
-sold only in sachets may spill once opened.
-will not keep oil at bay.
-Scent does stay (may not be suitable for others)


My verdict:

I like it. this is the most affordable BB cream on the market. Aside from that I love the coverage it gives me. Once it sets on my skin it doesn't transfer much. For me I will buy this again for my downtime days (tamad mag-makeup days).

That's all folks. Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer: This review is based on my personal experience and opinion. This product may or may not be suitable for all skin types. Thank you.
     

DIY Eyeshadow Primer

It’s been more than one year since I wrote a blog, simply because I don’t have an internet connection at home (haha too bad for me back then) but now I do. Yey! Anyway, a lot of things have changed over the year specially my make-up habit, and so much more which I will share here on my blog. But for now it’s about make up.

So, cosmetic products are continuously evolving through the years, I just started learning the ropes about make-up, though, I have been applying make-up since high school but just basic stuff like powder, blush on and lip gloss. Now, there are so many things to consider when applying make-up.

For this blog I will be talking about eye primers/ eye shadow primer.

Whenever I watch make-up tutorials specially the famous ones in youtube, they would apply an eye shadow primer before doing their eye make-up. So, I got curious. What exactly does this eye shadow primer do? So, I looked it up on google on what’s the use of an eye primer and found a good answer from a yahoo question about eye primers, here ‘s the answer,

“eye primer is put under eyeshadows or liners to: 1) Keep it in place(no smudging/running), 2) Enhances eyeshadow colors(looks more pigmented), 3) Prevents eyeshadow from setting into your crease, so your makeup flows together better, and 4) Makes it easier to blend your eyeshadows, because of the smooth surface”.

Okay so knowing the purpose of this product every time I go to the mall I'd pass by cosmetic stores and stalls inside the department stores to look for one. The cheapest one I found is from” Essence I love Stage Eyeshadow Base” a cosmetic brand from Germany. It is roughly around 250 pesos. I didn’t buy one though, maybe next time. But a lot of youtubers and bloggers and make-up geeks are raving about Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is the best eye primer on the market. As much as I want to grab one for myself, it’s way over my budget.

I started searching for DIY eye primers on youtube and there’s a lot of them out there. Most of them  (coz I kind of a watched a lot to look for something I can already make without spending extra) would use body butter, Vaseline petroleum jelly, some aloe vera gel, eye creams and face moisturizers. The very basic make-up product they mix it with are liquid foundations and liquid concealers. 

Some of the ingredients are not so easy to come by, if so, it will be pricey. So, I sort of studied how they do their DIY’s and came up with my very own concoction with things I already have.

I have read some comments that Vaseline and Body butter is not safe to be used on the eye area. As we all know our eye area is a very sensitive part of our body. I heard in one of the videos that she didn’t use an eye cream coz it’s expensive so she used some face lotion instead. But since I have the cheapest eye cream ever thanks to Quick FX, I used that instead, and I know it is safe for me to place it on my eye lids since I use it too.

So below are the ingredients I used for my eyeshadow primer.

Quick FX Eyelift Cream Cost 49Pesos at Watsons

Quick FX No Shine Mattifier (coz our eyelids oils up as well) 89 Pesos at Watsons

Myra E BB Creams in Beige and Ivory (though they have some shimmer, I think for the Vita Glow effect they say) 99 Pesos

Maybelline Super Mineral 24 Liquid Foundation in OC2 (it’s lighter than my skintone with a yellow undertone I think) Not sure how much since this is a gift from my best friend but I think it cost at around 500-600 pesos.

I don’t have a liquid concealer that’s why I didn’t use one here.

So, I kind of mix them in a small container in equal amounts, I really didn’t measure it, I just eyeballed my measuring here.

So this is what it looks like after. Nothing really special about it.

Here are the swatches I made with and without the eye primer and normal face primer and plain liquid foundation.

Captured with HDR setting on Camera Phone

So this is my first swatch of my eyeshadow with and without the eye primer that I made.

Without Camera Flash

With Camera Flash

I don't know if you can tell the difference but I really tried to capture what I am seeing first hand, it might look different on the photo, or the device you are using to read my blog. But in my perspective, the one with an eye primer is more pigmented that the other swatches without the primer, with a regular face primer and with liquid foundation.

Just apply a small amount on your eyelids (a little goes a long way), and gently blend it using your ring finger. Once the primer is completely blended out and absorbed by the skin you can now do your eye make-up.

Will be trying it out on my eyes and will update you on the longevity of this DIY product of mine.

Feel free to try this out and comment here if it works for you or not or if you have any suggestions, or even violent reactions on what I did. :)

That's All Folks..

Thank you for reading.

The Red Engine Diner Experience

Over a month ago my cousin showed me a picture of a red burger on her mobile phone and she excitedly told me about this place in Ayala Makati where she found the diner and of course had a taste of what they offer.  Knowing her appreciation with good food is the same as mine I know that this is a place worth checking out. 

So, at last my long wait was over and we had a chance to visit the place so I can try it out for myself.

The Red Engine Diner is Located at The Column in Ayala, Makati City, a block away from RCBC Plaza. Just a small space with al fresco and the dine-in space would only accommodate about 32 people, if my calculations are correct.

As you can see, a Diner experience with the red and white chairs. This is like looking at my "Cafe World" game. haha

They offer a wide variety of food choices like pasta, fried chicken, salads, appetizers, rice meals, sandwiches, ribs & steaks, and the Red burger I was so craving for.

Price ranges from as low as Php119.00 to as high as Php1,199.00

They have desserts like cheesecakes, brownie ala mode and choco lava. When it comes to drinks they have frozen beverages like coffee based drinks, fruit shakes and milk shakes. Also the usual sodas and iced tea and Beer.

For first timers my cousin recommended that I try the Bacon Mushroom Melt burger and so I did. The burger itself cost Php259.00 and for an additional Php50.00 you get fries and Iced Tea, Php75.00 if you want Potato wedges and Iced Tea. They unfortunately ran out of fries so we got the wedges instead as an add on. 

 And so, This is what my order looks like...(Looks small in this angle but it's big enough for 2 people to eat)

Golden fried potato wedges on the side with sour cream dip (awesome dip) Of course, the red colored burger buns topped with black sesame seeds, crispy bacon, mushrooms and onions and oozing melted cheese..

You may now be wondering so what so special about it? Aside from the red colored burger buns which was not airy not like the ones we get from famous fast food chains. The total burger experience was filling, I'm no food critic but I really appreciate good food, and this one here is one hell of a good one. Creative too.

The burger itself even without adding condiments such as ketchup, mayo or mustard is really really good. Just the right flavor not salty, it doesn't feel oily, the meat was cooked right with all the juices oozing in your taste buds with every bite. 

Though I'm the type who experiments with food so I added Ketchup, mustard and a dash of ground pepper. Good too. :) Though I hope I ordered for beer instead of Iced Tea.

They provide you utensils like knife and fork but for me the best way to eat this red awesomeness is the old way, just grab it and savor every bite.

There's just a lot to choose from and I am definitely going back to try other stuff on the menu.

Hope you guys enjoy your visit to this place too.

Thank you for reading..

Update: I don't think they still have this at the Column, last time I checked google this diner is now in Sky Ranch, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City, Philippines.

A Review on Instant Slim-Time from SM Dept Store/ Watsons

    I started this blog because I tried looking for available reviews online about this specific weight loss product I found in SM Marikina Department Store and would like to know more about it.

   Unfortunately, when I tried looking for a website that would directly link me to this product I wasn't lucky enough to find one.

Hence, I decided to start one for others to see, and so this story begins...

  My husband decided to celebrate his birthday in advance and we had a buffet lunch at Vikings in SM Marikina. After hours of food tripping, my hubby, my 4 year-old daughter, my best friend and I decided to take a stroll around the mall to buy a few stuff and just burn the calories off. While my best friend was trying out this Derma Wand product, a sales lady approached us and asks if we would be interested about the weight loss capsules she was offering. I even made a joke since she was offering it to my best friend who was already skinny and in no need of such. 

  I on the other hand was overweight (sad but true). I was never able to lose all the excess weight when I got pregnant 4 years ago, and I'm really having a hard time losing all these pounds off my body. So, I got all interested and listened to what the sales lady had to say about this product.

   

First thing she mentioned that caught my attention was it can make me lose 5 - 7 pounds in a week. Sounds tempting already, I can barely lose 1 pound in a month let alone 5 pounds in a week. I have tried a lot of weight loss products in the market over the years. Some of them are popular Chinese slimming products like Zhen De Shou, Ballerina, Pearl White, Balsam and Leisure 18 Juices and Coffee. I have also tried slimming teas like Biofit, Biguerlai and Kankunis but we all know that they are more of a laxative than fat burning. Yes, these products will make you lose weight a little everyday with continued use but the side effects are horrible. The most common one in all these products is to make you constantly go to the loo. And they only make you lose excess water from your body which you can easily regain. I have also tried local products which are of course BFAD approved like Slenda, RedoxFat and the most recent one was CosmoBody by Watsons. All these products in my body right? Sounds desperate I know, but it's just that, the chubby blood runs in the family so I had to put more effort in losing weight plus the fact that I wasn't getting any younger and my metabolism is way too slow than before.

Instant Slim-Time have the same ingredients like any other products on the market now which is L-Carnitine and Green Tea. But according to the sales lady I talked to, this is the only product here in the Philippines that have the highest L-Carnitine content which is 500mg compared to others. Since I'm a veteran in slimming products, I asked about the side effects, she mentioned that there won't be any. I asked again just to make sure telling her about my experiences in weight loss products and she assured me that it won't be like that in this product.  She of course explained more on how it works, she said that as it burns fat in the body it will convert that fat into energy.  

This is also an appetite suppressant which will lessen all your food cravings and will not make you hungry that often. And so, it's like having you go on a diet without putting much effort on it. While taking this product, it will make you perspire a lot specially if you're into exercising every now and then, it would definitely help you a lot. If in case you don't exercise and all you probably do in a day is sit and lie around watching TV or in front of your computer (Guilty) she mentioned that you will feel increased heat in your body, not a feverish type of heat but probably the type where you can feel the fat burning effects of the product. I was also told that once you lose fat in specific areas of your body there will be no sagging effects,  like in your arms. Hmm, we'll see about that. ;p

As noted in the bottle you should take 1 or 2 capsules during or right after meals. Though the lady told me to take it before meals which she said was more effective. As I listened to her I continued to read what's written on the bottle thoroughly. And what instantly caught my eye was when it says "DO NOT TAKE COFFEE in Combination". And I was like "What??" coz' I'm a coffee lover and I can't get through the day without my cup of Joe. But the sales lady explained to me that they only tell it to customers of a certain age bracket who is more prone of having palpitations. She said I can still take my coffee and give at least an interval of an hour or two before I take Slim-Time. In Addition to all these information, the sales lady also said it whitens the skin as part of its effects. Now, that's a bonus if it was true.

I was convinced enough to buy one for myself in hopes of such great results. But I know I shouldn't just rely solely on the product, I need to put effort on this as well. I have quite a collection of exercise tools at home I can now put to use again.

Every Bottle contains 60 capsules which is good for 1 or 2 months depending on how often you will take it either 1 or 2 caps daily.

Price is 1,500.00 per bottle and available in Watsons and SM Department stores.

I already started taking it as of May 14, 2014, though I forgot to weigh myself in before I started but I think I was roughly around 160lbs (Ouch!!).

Will be keeping you guys a weekly update on my new journey to another slimming regimen.

Wish me Luck... :)