Working Ladies' Night

     Since we graduated last February 2010, my college barkada and I  have never gone out together like how we used to. Job applications and work took its toll on us as we never found a common time to meet. So imagine our excitement when we (FINALLY!) were able to set up a date for all of us to meet and catch up to join Maybelline New York's Barkada Blowout!


Of course, we had fun picking out on each other, i mean, picking out dresses for each other. ;
)

 Bea needed a new eyeliner, Cots needed a makeup remover and Kaye needed her next compact powder. And we all wanted to try the new Eye Studio Hyper Diamonds!



 We dressed up for the night to forget work and be the young college girls we still feel we are. =)


All dressed up and shining for the night! ^-^




It was a super fun night of catching up and partying. We missed this! =) 

Why We Deserve the Blowout
    
 They say that high school is unforgettable but nobody said that college won't be. We may not have cried with each other during our first heartbreaks, but we have stayed up together for months through our first and second thesis. That's priceless too! Today, we try to meet by signing up on marathons and planning dinner dates. But what's more fun than celebrating our first year into being career women than getting an awesome blowout from Maybelline New York! THAT would be the best way to cap this year, we started 2010 rocking the academe and ended partying hard with Maybelline! =)

The Lola Girls <3<3<3









Haul: Etude House BB Cream and Compact

I received my preorders of Etude House today and I was so happy that I received a lot of samples and the pink Etude House pen! hahahaha XD It was really worth the wait! And my reseller was really nice. =)


 I ordered the Precious Minerals BB Cream in Sheer Glowing and Precious Minerals BB Compact in Sheer Mattifying. I am really excited to try them because they are the Hello Kitty editions! Not that the product is different from the normal Etude House ones but I am a sucker for Hello Kitty so really, I ordered them mostly because of the packaging. Nonetheless, these two got pretty good reviews so I thought they are also worth a try.


I hope all goes well with these babies! (Sorry for the crappy photos, I only have time at night so I really have to use the flash)

Ta-ta, Ladies! Early to work tomorrow! =)

Review: Missha Signature Real Complete BB Cream #21



     Being a regular reader at Girltalk, Femalenetwork.com's forum, I was influenced to try Missha Signature Real Complete BB Cream. So even if I have sold my rarely used full-sized bb creams and just kept my favorite Missha Watery Sample (I did not like the gray cast and the fact that it is really hard to remove), I ordered a #21 sample of this bb cream.


     I really liked how the sample is not packaged in the usual square packaging. (Yes, I am easily impressed. haha) It was packed in the sample plastic packaging but is shaped liked the full-sized bottle of the bb cream.


So on with the review;


     Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream is said to be a Hypoallergenic BB Cream, from Missha's website, maybe because it has a 7-free formula.




7-free formula : Non-chemical, Paraben-free, Mineral oil-free,
alcohol-free, GMO-free, Triclosan-free, Benzophenone-free

     Nonetheless, this BB Cream has a million more ingredients than Missha Perfect Cover. Check it here.
But if you are allergic to mineral oil and are okay with dimethicone, this BB cream maybe for you. This BB cream claims to have perfect coverage with UV blocking, wrinkle repairing and whitening properties with its all natural plant extracts. As for me, I am just hoping that it is non-comedogenic. 

Swatches:


Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream #21

Shade: #21 Light Pink Beige - for fair-skinned gals and with fair I mean those with Korean/Chinese ethnicity. I am fair but not as fair as other Asians so I guess I should opt for #23.
Coverage: Sheer-Medium. (buildable)
I have acne scars and the redness was not completely covered after 3 layers. And since I layer it, I need the darker shade since #21 would be too light.
Texture: runny
Not as runny as Lioele Waterdrop but it is not thick and is spreadable. It does not dry quickly giving me more time to blend it and layer it as needed. I liked this trait of the bb cream.
Fragrance: I prefer non-scented cosmetics so as to know it has less ingredients but this has a very pleasant flowery scent to me that disappears right away. 
Dewyness: I prefer dewy bb creams but this is more dewy than I would have preferred. So after I have waited for it to dry, I used Ellana's Sheer Velvet to minimize shine. 
Skin Reaction: I had 3-4 very small bumps on the first time that I used this.
 I have really sensitive skin and have suffered from an extreme breakout earlier this year, I am trying bb creams now to find one that I can just use when I join marathons. I can't use mineral makeup on those times since for sure, MMU would melt. 
Other Comments:
     I tried this again today (2nd time) and have used more product than I did on the first time to test the coverage. The product blended with my skintone on the first time but since I used more bb cream now, the oxidation took more time and since I am always on the run during normal days, I think I should get the darker shade to get a better match. Moreover, this bb cream caked on me the last time and also it did not last long. Maybe because it was too hot on my way to the office but still, I stayed in an airconditioned room the whole day. For this, I think I cannot use this bb cream for my intended purpose, the marathon.

     What I liked about this bb cream, though, is that it could make your skin look really luminous and glowing. Applied and blended properly, minus humidity, like now that it is raining outside and the weather is cool, my skin looks glowing and even if I applied 3 layers, I think I do not look made up since it does not dry to a matte finish. 

     I have received samples of the #23 from another seller and would try it on the coming days. I'll also check if I get the same reaction. But today, just to be safe, I buffed in a layer of Ellana's oil-absorbing powder to control oil and shield my skin from the bb cream. I had high hopes for this bb cream. I really wished that it could replace my Missha Watery, which btw, have lasted through sweat and grime when I used it for the OROFOLS run last month. Sadly, Missha Watery is already discontinued. I think the reason why my sample did not become too watery was because it is in a jar and instead of drying out, the excess water just evaporated so I still have my sample in perfect condition. 

     I'll be posting a review of Missha Watery on the coming days. I hope this could help others out there looking for their HG bb cream.

     Ta-ta, Ladies!






Haul: NYX Mosaic Blush and Round Lipsticks

Hi! Thanks for reading this. I am sorry for being away for so long. I have been busy at work and have been so tired at night to blog. Anyway, I would just like to share my NYX haul from Sis Lelila of digitaltraincase. This is my third loot from her and so far, I am satisfied with her customer service. Thanks Sis Lelila!


So for this loot, I got NYX Mosaic Blush in Dare and more RLS! I had to stop myself from ordering round lipsticks. They're so addicting! But now that I have those shades that I really like, I might settle for buying backups. As you can see on the first photo, the package is carefully wrapped for safety during shipment.


So here's my loot! I got RLS in electra, indian pink, rose, thalia, jupiter and fusion. I have 9 more round lipsticks from my first and second hauls. So far my faves are snow white and paris. I tried electra and I am not feeling it as of now.  I am excited to try Dare! ~_^

If you want some swatches, I may do swatches for you, just message me. =)

P.S. If you know how to avoid spams on the chatbox on your right, I would appreciate some tips. I hate deleting useless spam.

Thanks!

Ta-ta, Ladies!

Burning My Eyes On: My Sister's Keeper

     I've always wanted to watch the movie but never got the chance. Nonetheless, I guess this is a good time to read the book. I'm not yet halfway on reading it but I am enjoying it so far. I could relate very well with the character of Anna. I know her feelings by heart. We may not be in the exact same situation but I understand her belief on her position in her family. And with this in mind, it is somewhat an eye-opener for me to read about the feelings of other characters in the story. So far, what I could say about the book is that it will make you feel a roller coaster of emotions. On this page you will sympathize with one character, on the next page, with another character. Nonetheless, you would know that all characters are longing for love and hope.
     This story is a breather from chick flicks and hardcore romance novels. The book does not make me feel giddy like Edward Cullen does but I know this will make me cry. I am currently in a want-to-but-don't-want-to-finish-it phase. But for now, I'll go back to my reading. =)
     Ta-ta, Ladies! =)
PS.
If you have read the book or seen the movie, feel free to share how you felt about it. Just please..please..don't spoil the story for me just yet. Thanks!!

Looklet: The Digital "Paper" Doll

     If you were born in the same era as I was, then you would have, at least, tried playing with paper dolls. I remember buying several of those cheap but totally cute paper dolls, ranging from random girl images to popular cartoon/anime characters, at the convenience store. After that, I would go home,  then slowly and carefully detach the dolls and the dresses from the cardboard and finally play with dolls by mixing and matching outfits with each other.

     Thanks to my facebook contacts, I learned about Looklet and oh boy, did this site help me burn time earlier this year when I have just graduated from college and was still looking for work. Looklet works pretty much like how young girls played with Barbie but much MUCH BETTER. (even if I just contented myself with brushing Barbie's hair and then putting her back inside her box.)  The site is really classy and attractive. The website also chooses a "Look for the Day" and such. I've never been chosen, though. hehe. If you're a perfectionist like me, it would take time for you to finish one look. I think I may have spent an hour or so finishing just one look. Moreover, staying in this site is like online shopping, just that you can't buy what's there. Nonetheless, the site posts real branded apparel that would make you want to look for the particular piece you're eye-ing. I bet the owners of this site are really gaining a lot from the brands they have in the site.

     Here are sample photos from my account, Andalasia. I did not put any watermarks on it anymore since my account name is there and the photo is pretty much from Looklet. 


The first look is a night-time look. I really love the whole outfit, not because I was the one who made the look, but because this is something I would really wear. I love every piece in this outfit, I wish I could really wear this. And LOOK AT THOSE SHOES! I really love those YSL shoes! Aren't they pretty? n_n


     This second look have received the most "likes" in all my outfits. Though it is such a humble number, it just goes to show that some other people also like what I did. I really love the necklace, the bag (And of course, the shopping bags!) and the SHOES!!!  I always end up wanting to match either these shoes or the YSL heels in every outfit I do.

     Now that I have a job, I rarely open my looklet account anymore. Not because I do not like it, but because I do not want to do a mediocre outfit. I am sure, though, that once I get the time, I will add more outfits to my account. I guess this site is the poor girl's dream "come true" in such a way. Poor meaning, I-have-spent-all-my-money-to-other-more-important-needs-and-I-should-be-in-a-"no-buy-mode"-right now-poor. So if you would like to restrain yourself from online shopping, I guess this site is a good place to burn the time. Just don't be tempted to go and scour the internet if you find an item you would totally die for. haha! Or if you would like to take your mind off work or something bothersome, Looklet will totally take your thoughts out of it, for sure.

     So, girls, unleash that fashionista in you and play designer in your own digital boutique with Looklet! You can find the site at www.looklet.com.

     Until here, for now.
     Ta-ta, Ladies! n_n

Review: Ms. Polly's Chocolate Cake

     Last Friday, I had this very strong craving for cake. I initially wanted a strawberry cheesecake but one of my bosses shared over lunch that the cafe in our building is selling Ms. Polly's Cakes and that their chocolate cake is a must-taste. So I googled Ms. Polly's Cakes and indeed, the most raved cake is their chocolate cake. So I went down for merienda to get myself the famed chocolate cake of Ms. Polly.

               


     Priced at 65 pesos per slice (about $1.30), at least at the cafe in our building, Ms. Polly's Chocolate Cake looks like a normal chocolate cake at first look. It has chocolate icing on top and in the middle of it. As you can see, I was not able to take a picture without first trying it out. haha! (Yes, I posted the large photo so you can look at it closely...and crave!)

     I liked the cake! I do not like super sweet cakes and this one really fits the bill. The chocolate icing was not too sweet and the cake itself was so moist and light. It was baked just right, not too tough or too soft.  It was not overpowering as compared to Red Ribbon's "a million chocolates in one cake". And because this cake is such a no-brainer when it comes to eating it, I bet I would not be able to resist it if one whole cake would be presented in front of me. 

     I can not decide yet if I prefer this cake over Chocolat's Death by Tablea but I would gladly eat both if I have the chance. But this cake's chocolate-y yet not throat-threatening sweetness is enough to make me want to have it again. and again. and again! If there's one thing I did not like about Ms. Polly's Chocolate Cake, it would be because this one slice did not seem to be enough! I finished the slice so fast that I totally wanted another! haha! 

     I would try their cheesecake next time. (And I'll stop myself from getting this cake also while I am at it. haha.)

You can check out Ms. Polly's cakes at www.mspollyscakes.multiply.com  or at these addresses;

FLAGSHIP STORE
4th Floor
Robinson's Galleria, Ortigas.
T: 703 50 58

COMMISSARY
Milan Street, Merville Park
Paranaque
T: 02 824 7612
T: 02 401 4588
F: 02 828 8400

     I've also read online that their cakes are available in some gas stations around the Metro. Even for just this cake, Ms. Polly's is really worth checking out. Can't wait to try their other decadent cakes! 

     Ta-ta Ladies! =)

Review: Charm Kabuki and Duo Fiber Brush

I was able to avail of Charm's sale of it's old brushes last April. This was to give way to their new line of brushes coming out. I got the Duo Fiber Brush and the Kabuki Brush as my choice for the freebie. As always,
the package I bought from Sophie of Beauty and Minerals was neatly and carefully packed. I really like sellers who see to it that their packages are safe for shipping.

1. Charm Duo Fiber Brush

                       

     This brush is really soft and dense. It is not poke-y at all. I've tried using this with liquid foundation but I think I haven't mastered the art of stippling yet. hehe. It bled on the first and second time I washed it but it bleeds less now. I'm not too keen about the pink handle but I can live with it. Nonetheless, I really like the cute logo of Charm brushes. =) 

More pictures:

             
  
     See how dense the brush is? This is truly a gem! I prefer to use it for my blushes since I have shifted to mineral makeup. Though I will still use this on the rare time I will use liquid foundation. (I have to practice my stippling! hehe)

             
     
     For comparison, here are photos side by side with my Sigma Stippling brush. The Sigma brush is denser than the Charm brush but I can understand that. The Sigma brush is bigger and longer than the Charm. But hey! You can see that the Charm Duo Fiber brush hairs are shaped well enough to perform well. It is more "focused". It fits the apples of my cheeks for a very good blush application. 

2. Charm Kabuki 

                                    
   
                    

     This brush looks really cute. I'm not a fan of pink but the hot pink bristles will really get your attention. I use this brush for touch-ups with Ellana's Sheer Velvet or Finishing Powder. I would not use it for buffing my mineral makeup because it's poke-y. The bristles are soft on my hands but not so much on my face. There is a new version of this kabuki, the Charm Luxe Kabuki. I heard from Girltalk that it is really soft. I would like to try that to compare it with this since I think it is really a better version of this kabuki. Nonetheless, with this being a "freebie" (it is the -take one- from the promo), I can find a good use for it.

So that's my first review for this blog. Hope somebody gets a good use for this! Ta-ta, Ladies! =)


Dolce Vita


After years of dreaming about it and being lazy or nervous to begin, I now open my very own review blogsite. I have been blogging since 2003 but my posts are purely personal and private. This blogsite, on the other hand, will be for reviews of stuff like movies, food, restaurants and yes! makeup! *excited*

I hope someday my reviews will be useful to somebody. And as for the reviews, they are purely personal and based on my experience. =)

I hope everybody is having a blessed Holy Week! =)