Skincare on a Budget

Hello everyone! How are you doing? I'm sorry I haven't been blogging often. I honestly thought that I'd have more time to blog, but summer is still quite hectic, with all the summer programs and all. Anyway, today I'm going to talk about skincare on a budget. Previously, I wrote about how i believe in investing in eye cream. Now how about for the rest of your skin care regimen? Here are my thoughts on what to save on and what to scrimp on especially when you're on a tight budget.

Facial Cleanser = save. I used to think that cleansers are something that you should really spend on, but come to think of it, facial cleansers don't really stay long on your face, so if you're low on a budget, you can save on this. Just choose something that's targeted for your skin's needs.

Exfoliant = save. There are many affordable exfoliants out there that range from non-abrasive to abrasive depending on your preference. Need an exfoliant because of acne? Tretinoin is readily available and won't burn a hole in your pocket.

Toner = save.  Toners are actually meant to make sure that your face is dirt-free and also to clean off residue left behind by soap. So toners need not be expensive.

Sunblock = save. Gone are the days when sunblock felt greasy and left an ugly white mask. Nowadays, there are so many choices available. Just make sure to choose something that's non-greasy, and has both UVA and UVB protection.

Eye cream = spend. I already wrote a whole article on this, so there's no need to elaborate further. If you only have enough money to invest in one product, I suggest that it be eye cream.

Moisturizer = save/spend. I think you can save on moisturizer if you have to, but I honestly believe that you should upgrade your moisturizer as you get older, since our skin gets more dry as we age.

What about you? What do you think? I'd love to read them :)

Summer Lemmings!

How is everyone! I'm sorry for being MIA, but my power adaptor died so I've been without a laptop for some time. I just recently purchased a new one, and along with other expenses: my derma bill, a new swimsuit, a replacement for my broken palette, another makeup book and paying off my credit card bill, I went flat broke in two days! *sniff* That doesn't stop me from lemming for stuff, though. So here's my lemming list so far this summer:

Crocs Rio Wedges

 There are very few Crocs shoes that catch my eye, and these wedges are one of them. They're so much comfier than other wedges, 'nuff said.

Hair extensions

As someone who works in the beauty industry, I really need different colors of hair extensions!

Summer dresses from Get Laud

I'm not very brand conscious when it comes to my clothes. I don't own anything from Get Laud, but their catalog looks very enticing. I really need dresses for everyday. People who see me often know that I rarely wear long pants. I wear mostly shorts and dresses and I absolutely need more!

Yikes! I need more money! LOL What about you? Have you any summer lemmings? I'd love to know what they are!

My Top Beauty Discoveries for 2010 + My New Gadget

Happy New Year everyone! Finally I'm going to show you my top beauty discoveries for 2010. I know I haven't made individual reviews of a lot of these products yet so stay tuned, guys. I will do my best to do individual reviews for those that I haven't done. Mind you these products have no particular order.

1. Cream Silk Precision Repair Treatment

What can I say? For around P200 for a 250 ml tub, this is a great steal! I use this once or twice a week on my damaged hair and it really does make it soft!

2. Asian Secrets Lulur Whitening Scrub

Another affordable product that can be easily found. Like the previous product, it costs less than P200 for around 200g. I'm not sure about the whitening part, but as a scrub it does the job. It's not too harsh but not too mild either. It has a great scent too!

3. Clarins Double Fix Mascara

If you know me, then you'll know I have the oiliest lids on the planet! I've tried all the so-called "waterproof" mascaras, but they don't stand a chance against my oily lids. Instead, I've had to use fiber mascaras which are great for everyday, but don't really give the extra oomph that I want during night outs. This mascara has solved my problem! I put it on top of my waterproof mascara, and it stays on! It comes with a hefty price tag, but it's worth it for me!

4. Urban Decay Naked Palette

I'm surprised that I haven't seen this in lists so far, considering that this palette has a very high demand and is always sold out on the website. This has become my go-to palette especially for weddings!

5. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup Foundation

I tried a sample of this and loved this! I'm definitely going to write a more in-depth review about this. For now, let me just say that this has become my skin enhancing foundation. And it's cheaper than foundations from Shu Uemura, Bobbi Brown and MUFE, although you get a little less product.

So there you have it everyone, my top beauty discoveries for 2010.

On a side note, I finally bought a new phone after three years! Meet my new gadget: my HTC Aria! I've been wanting to try an android phone for some time now, since my techie friends are recommending it to me more than an Apple phone. Besides, lets face it, I don't have enough moolah to buy an IPhone 4. Hihi!

I'm really enjoying my new phone!

Watch out guys, I'll be doing a blog sale within the week. I sort of have to make up for the money I spent on my phone!

On My Shopping List!

Hi everyone! As you may know, I'll be leaving for the US in two days! And I'll be gone for quite some time! But the good news is that I have access to a lot of makeup stuff! That's gonna be the highlight of my trip. hahhahaha. Anyway, kidding aside, here's what I'm eyeing.

Graftobian Super Cream Palette

Kryolan Dermacolor Concealer Palette

Kryolan Fixing Spray

Beauty Blender

Ben Nye Loose Powders

A back-up tube of DUO eyelash adhesive

MAC 130
- I originally wanted a MAC 187, but after reading reviews of this, I think this would be a better choice!

Blending brushes galore!

MAC 217

MAC 222

MAC 224
- I have the 224SE, but I'd rather have an FS.

There's something though that I really want and I'm hoping I'll have my grubby little hands on them soon.

I'm also going to be getting some hair products, but I haven't decided on which ones. I'm also hoping for some CARGO blushes.

So what do you think of my list? Anything you want to add? Anything you want to discourage me from buying? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Reasons Why I Love Mineral Makeup

By the name of my blog, you can see that I love mineral makeup. I have lots of them especially foundations and finishing powders. They remain to be my everyday makeup. I don't use traditional makeup on a daily basis. Now I'll tell you why I love them!

• It has natural SPF
• It's much more skin-friendly
• It has a much longer shelf life
• It's cheaper than traditional makeup
• It looks and feels like second skin
• Does not cake after a few hours on my oily skin
• It doesn't clog pores and it's suitable for sensitive skin
• A little goes a long way
  

So as you can see, there are so many benefits of using mineral makeup. However, I admit that it has its downsides. Here's my list:

• It's can be messy and hard to travel with
• It needs to be applied with a brush (can't use fingers!)
• Does not provide the full coverage that traditional makeup offers
• A lot of brands are not available locally
  

So there you have it. If you ask me, the pros still far outweigh the cons. As for the staying power, some people complain that it doesn't stay long on their skin, especially when it comes to blushes. I believe that they just haven't found the right brand for them yet. I happen to know some brands wherein the blushes last for 10-12 hours on my uber oily skin! And I mean oily! Mineral makeup is my first love and will forever hold a special place in my heart.

So what about you? What do you prefer? Mineral or traditional? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The Best of 2009

Hello everyone! Christmas is done, and the year will soon end. So, I'd like to present my list of the best of 2009. Now, when I mean that it's the best of 2009, I'm talking about products that were released in 2009, or have been released previously but didn't make waves until 2009. I loved a lot of products this year but if I put them all, it might take forever. So, here's my version (Please note that they have no particular order):

1. Adorned With Grace Foundation

This foundation was released in 2008 (I think) but didn't become really popular in GirlTalk until late 2008 until early 2009. This is my favorite mineral foundation brand, although I still don't have a full pot myself (I haven't gotten to it yet). It gives me a really natural finish, but at the same time giving me coverage. I wouldn't say full coverage; it's probably a medium.

2. Saizen Charcoal Masque 

This product made waves amongst GirlTalkers and bloggers alike. And why wouldn't it? Its job is to remove whiteheads and blackheads in our faces. And it does exactly what it's supposed to do. And the best part is, it's only P85 (around $1.60).

You can read my full review HERE.

3. Kryolan Products

Makeup artists have been using Kryolan for a long time already, but it didn't make waves in GirlTalk until the 2009. A lot of beauty addicts now have turned to Kryolan as less expensive alternatives to more expensive brands. Products in particular that because sellouts were the TV Paint Stick and the Anti-Shine Powder.

4. MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Summer Rose

This beauty powder blush came out in MAC's A Rose Romance collection. The moment I swiped it I knew it was love! This quickly became my everyday blush. It gave me a sheer wash of color, very natural, as if I didn't have anything on, yet it lasted all day. And who doesn't love the rose design?

5. MAC Mineralize Blush in Hand-Finish

Another favorite blush of mine that came out this year as part of MAC's Colour Craft Collection. It goes on sheer but buildable. It has big glittery bits which not everyone might like, but since I like shimmer I sometimes put this alone for daytime, or put this on top of another blush for night time events.

6. Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. II

This is one of the two must have limited edition palettes this year. I missed out on Vol. I and I made sure I wasn't going to miss out on this one. How can I resist Urban Decay? They're creamy and nicely pigmented. I love UD e/s. This palette has 16 shades! It doesn't hurt either that they included two travel sized pencils and a travel sized UDPP to match.

7. Barbie Loves Stila All Doll'd Up Palette

 

 

 

This is the second must-have limited edition palette. Even though I had the UD Book of Shadows already, I couldn't resist getting this too! This palette offers great pigmentation, and it's a steal for P1250 (around $25). The advantage of this over the UD palette is that this is much smaller and easier to tote around.

So this is my list. What's on your list? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

Reader's Request: Pre-makeup routine

This post is for Sulli, who requested that I do a post on how to put moisturizer and sunblock before makeup. I hope you find this post helpful! Anyway, let's start talking about the CTM routine. Just so we get everything straight, CTM stands for cleanse, tone and moisturize! So let's get started.

Cleanse. Of course, it's best to put makeup on a clean face. Slather on your favorite facial wash. Just make sure that it's right for you and your skin type. For myself, I use Cyleina Black Pearl Soap, Cyleina Rice Bran Soap or Skintel pimple soap.

Tone. Toning is an extra step but it gives your skin added benefits. Likewise, know the type of toner that is right for you. For dry to normal skin, choose a toner that's very gentle and make sure that it's alcohol-free. For oily skin, some people prefer to use astringents. Again, it all depends on each person's skin. When applying toner as a pre-makeup routine, apply it in a DOWNWARDS motion. Why? Applying upwards will make the pores more visible and will make the hairs stand. The toner I use is Dickinson's Witch Hazel. It's alcohol free but still helps clean my face. Make sure that the face is already dry before proceeding to the next step. If you'd like to apply a face serum, you can do so after this.

Moisturize. I recommend that everyone should use a moisturizer regardless of the skin type. I have REALLY oily skin but I still use moisturizer twice a day. It really helps makeup glide on your skin. And besides, putting makeup tends to make dry spots more obvious so it's best to moisturize those spots before putting on makeup. As always, apply moisturizer in a downwards motion for the reasons I mentioned above. Be sure to choose one that's non-greasy and non-comedogenic. In my case, I use Leyende Face Canvas.

Sunblock? It's not part of the CTM but I recommend that you slather one on. If you do, apply it BEFORE moisturizing and wait for the face to dry before applying moisturizer. Just note that a lot of sunblocks give off a whitish cast that's why some MUAs recommend not using one during shoots. Personally, though, I can never leave the house without putting sunblock. Too lazy? Choose a moisturizer that has SPF protection already. Just make sure that it has UVB protection too!

Now we can begin our makeup routine. But wait! There is still something that you can slather on: a primer! A primer can help makeup last longer as well as blur imperfections and control the oilies. People with dry skin can opt to skip this step. For people with combination skin, you can choose to just apply primer in the oily areas. However, for people with oily skin (especially me since I'm a greaseball) I'd recommend using a primer on the whole face especially if you notice that your makeup tends to slide off during the day.

I hope that this post was helpful. I'm on to a very busy week! I'm hoping that I'll still have time for blogging. Ciao!

The Beauty List

Have you ever wondered what stuff you'll need if you want to be a makeup artist (apart from your makeup)? Here's the "beauty list" that we were given. In it are the things that our teachers think that we should have.

1. rubbing alcohol (preferable in a small spray dispenser)
2. Cetaphil cleanser (or any facial cleanser of your choice)
3. moisturizer (hypoallergenic and non-oily)
4. toner
5. bottle of facial water spray
6. non-oily make up remover
7. eye gel - for brides' puffy eyes
8. eye cream
9. cherry chapstick - for doing men's makeup since you can't put gloss on them
10. eye drops - for red eyes
12. cotton tips
13. cotton balls
14. cape or cover cloth - so you won't spill makeup on your model's/client's clothes
15. tissue
16. paper towels
17. table towel or non-slip placemat
18. cosmetic pencil sharpener
19. small embroidery scisssors
20. tweezers
21. disposable plastic mini shaver
22. lash curler
23. headbands/clips - so your model's/client's hair won't get in the way
24. palette knife
25. mixing palette
26. breath spray - for you, not for you client
27. lash adhesive
28. sponges: wedge, circular, ellipse, sea sponge
29. small plastic bowl
30. cup/glass to use as brush stand
31. lashes
32. brush cleaner
33. disposable applicators for mascara and lips
34. roux stick - for covering gray/white hair
35. color wheel
36. small jar of petroleum jelly
37. liquid band aid (if available) - for covering crusty pimples
38. hand sanitizer
39. personal hygiene items (toothbrush, deodorant, etc) - in case shoots take long
40. first aid kit

whew! now that's a long list.

Save or Splurge?

Are you budget-conscious like me yet you want good quality makeup? Well then, you're just like me. I do a lot of reading about saving vs. splurging so I hope that my own version will help other people like me in choosing which products they can save on and products that need a little splurging. Of course, if you can afford to splurge in all types of makeup, then no one is stopping you :P

Let's begin.

Foundation. Splurge. Your face is your canvas, so look for one that will make your face as flawless as possible. It should be long-lasting, non-streaky or cakey, and will give you a "your face but better look.

Concealer. Splurge. I hate to be the one to say this, but when it comes to concealer, the more expensive brands to seem to work better than drugstore brands most of the time (not all of the time!). Look for something that will give good coverage, long-lasting and is not cakey.

Eyeshadow. Save. Here's a tip: buy in palettes. That way you get more value for money. Besides, if you're not a makeup artist, it's quite unlikely that you'll be able to consume one whole pot before it expires. But if there are some shades that you use almost everyday, then buying a whole pot is a good idea.

Eyeliner. Splurge. Especially for me since I have REALLY oily lids, I need something that will stay put the whole day!

Eyebrow pencil/powder. Save. I do believe that you can save on this because a lot of inexpensive brands seem to do the trick.

Mascara. Save. Since mascaras have the shortest life span among makeup items, it's a good money-saving tip to buy inexpensive ones. I believe that there are inexpensive mascaras that work well.

Blush. Save. There are inexpensive blushes that have good pigmentation, have a good finish and are long-lasting.

Lipstick/Lipgloss. Save. I'm not an expert on trad lippies, since I only use mineral lippies, but I've read that there are some good inexpensive lippies out there. Besides, even the high-end lipglosses can have that sticky feeling that I hate.

Finishing powder. Save or splurge. If all you're looking for is good oil control, then you can find it in inexpensive powders, but if you're looking for a pretty finish as well, I think the more expensive ones give a better dewy-but-not-glittery look.

Well, I hope I've helped some of the budget-conscious! I'm not saying that you SHOULD save on the items I've mentioned, I'm saying that you CAN save on these if you want or need to. Although, I know how fabulous makeup makes us makeup addicts happy!

Any reactions or comments? Leave me a note :P

Top 3 Beauty Products that I Can't Live Without

I'm a beauty addict, but there are some products that are just more important than others! Here is my list of the Top 3 Beauty Products that I will go crazy without.

1. Sunblock. I'm such a sunblock addict. I never go out without wearing at least SPF 40. I even supplement it with Clean and Clear Oil Blotting Papers a few times a day.

2. Lip Balm. I'm very prone to dry lips so I have have have to put on lip balm overnight every night to keep my lips moist. It's a double yikes to have dry lips for me because being a flutist, it's hard to play with dry lips.

3. Oil Blotting Papers. In case I haven't reiterrated over and over again, I have very oily skin that no product can control. I'd be happy to find a product that can keep my face looking like an oil mine for 4 hours. So, oil blotting papers have become my best friend. I go through a pack just like that!

What's your top 3? I'd love to hear your thoughts.