Bioderma Sensibio H2O AR - My New Favorite Makeup Remover

It's been a while since my last post. Forgive me, but I was quite busy at work, with the tax season and also some out-of-town trips with family and friends. I would like to share another great beauty find - Bioderma Sensibio H2O AR. I chanced upon this when I was in Singapore with friends. I was looking for a good makeup remover since I forgot mine at home. So in one of our shopping trips, I saw this Bioderma Sensibio H2O AR.

I remembered that I tried the Bioderma shampoo that my dermatologist recommended to me for my dandruff and it worked really great, so I bought this makeup remover of the same brand. And I'm glad I did. I had a bit of rash on my cheeks and I was quite afraid of putting anything on it since I have very sensitive skin, but this actually helped to take away the redness. I also forgot to bring my face cream for my skin asthma, so I knew that this makeup remover for redness was the one that helped my face rashes. So I had a makeup remover as well as rash reliever. So cool! I'm glad that I found this product. I do recommend it for everyone especially those with ultra sensitive skin like me.
My verdict: Bioderma Sensibio H2O AR is a great makeup remover for everyone especially for sensitive skin and skin with rashes or prone to rashes. Highly recommended!

Nyx™ Proof It Waterproof Eye Shadow Primer Base - My New Favorite Eye Primer

I like to wear eye shadows everyday at work, but usually in the middle of the day, my eye shadow either loses color or the colors run. Yikes! My makeup artist friend said that it's because I have quite oily eyelids. Who would have thought I have oily lids when I have quite dry skin! Talk about ironic! So I usually have to remove it with my eye makeup remover and retouch after lunch. Then came Nyx™ Proof It Waterproof Eye Shadow Primer Base gifted by my bff who came from her vacation in Singapore. She really knows what I need! ;)

What I noticed with it is that a little goes a long way. I just put a dab on my lid and it spreads so easy. Plus, my eyeshadow does not budge all day with this stuff underneath. I just have to wait around 3-5 minutes for this primer to set before applying my eye shadow or it can be a little sticky when I apply my eye shadow over it. And even at the end of the day, my lids don't show any creasing. Another plus is that it didn't cause my eyes to itch even though I have very sensitive eyes. This one is definitely a keeper! :)

My verdict: Nyx™ Proof It Waterproof Eye Shadow Primer Base is a great primer before applying your eye shadow. Definitely highly recommended!

My Tattoo Removal Experience with PicoSure

I had one point in my life where I loved my star tattoo, but since I'm getting older, I felt that I've outgrown it. But I didn't want to spend too much time to take it out. I researched on the different tattoo removal lasers out there and I learned that PicoSure is the best one. Good thing that my dermatologist has that laser. This is my star tattoo before the PicoSure treatment.

The PicoSure laser treatment was not that painful. There was no scarring that happened even after 5 sessions of the laser. This is my star tattoo after 5 sessions:

I'm very happy with the results. Got rid of my tattoo in just after 5 months!

My verdict: PicoSure Laser is very effective for tattoo removal. Highly recommended!

My Underarm Lightening Treatment

Ok, this is quite embarrassing... but I had to share this. I have some friends and office mates that have been egging me to share the story of my underarm lightening treatment so here it is...

I have had a lot of treatments for my dark underarms from different types of creams/soaps/lotions to peeling and lasers, and they haven't done much. Sure, there was some bit of lightening but not too significant that I almost gave up. Good thing that my dermatologist, Dr. Margaret Corcoran had the latest laser for skin lightening - LaseRenu by Lasemd of Lutronic. She explained to me that it's a breakthrough laser for skin lightening and skin smoothing, and at the same time, nanotechnology treatment through the use of a nanotechnology serum that comes with the treatment. I just had to give it a go since it was pretty convincing how she explained it to. However, I still had doubts but I just needed to prove it myself. Here is a photo of my left underarm before LaseRenu:

It really was not a pretty sight. With my lighter skin tone, the dark pigmentation always stood out. And I was always embarrassed with wearing sleeveless shirts/dresses. 

I was amazed at the results after 1 session, so I had to continue on since Dr. Corcoran mentioned that for the amount of pigmentation that I had, I will most likely need 5 sessions. So I did 4 more sessions, each session at a 2-week interval. 1 month after my 5th session, this was how my left underarm looked:

I also noticed that my underarm's "chicken skin" smoothened out, which was a great added benefit of the LaseRenu treatment. It is a very good treatment with very minimal downtime; I only had light pinkish underarms for 1 day and rough texture of my underarms for 3 days. During the treatment, it was not painful at all, just a sensation of slight warmth with slight tingling sensation. I think it's worth every peso; even though it's not cheap, it does work. Like what they say, "You get what you pay for."

By the way, my dermatologist also said that LaseRenu is not just for the underarms, it can be used for any body part, even the face. I may have one treatment for my dark elbows next time, i.e. once I save up more money for it. LOL! ;)

My verdict: LaseRenu by Lasemd  of Lutronic is very effective underarm lightening treatment. Highly recommended!

Nyx Powder Blush in Pinched: A Review

I was recently gifted a new blush - Nyx Powder Blush in Pinched tone.

My first impression was it was quite small, at first I thought that it was a single eyeshadow. It was smooth and easy to blend. I like the golden sheen effect as well. There are 2 things that I don't like though - it doesn't last the whole day, and the packaging was kinda flimsy and cheap. Overall, it's an ok blush.

My verdict: Nyx Powder Blush is an ok blush, though there are better ones out there. Not recommended.

Murad Acne Treatment Concealer: My New Emergency Acne Control Concealer

I don't know what happened, but recently I've been having some pimples on my cheeks. It's quite embarrassing. I ran out of my Physicians Formula Blemish Rx Concealer and my dermatologist does not have it anymore. Good thing she has a replacement - Murad Acne Treatment Concealer.

It goes on creamy and is easy to blend. It conceals my inflamed pimples, though I need to dab it several times to ultimately cover the bigger ones. It does help with my acne since when I use it on my pimples, I definitely see them gone or get smaller by the end of the day. Packaging is very convenient and portable and can easily fit in my small makeup case.

My verdict: Murad Acne Treatment Concealer is a good concealer for pimples and blemished skin. Highly recommended!

Just a warning to all the people in the internet universe....

I'm a private citizen and I know that I'm entitled to have my own space in this world and in the internet universe. There may be people who don't like my posts, and they are entitled to their own opinion, but please don't make harsh and rude comments that you may regret later. I will keep on writing about what I feel, think and like as well as dislike. It's not to gain applause or merit, but just to express myself. If there will still be people who will make negative comments in my blog, I will stop letting people make comments on this site. Thanks for your time.

Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey Florale - My New All-Around Perfume!

I was getting tired of my current perfume and wanted to have a new one. The scent that I was looking for was something that I could wear both for daytime and evening. I caught of whiff of it from a magazine insert of Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey Florale and I just had to have it.

It smells quite strong like alcohol at first, but once it settles on my skin, it smells really clean and fresh with light rosy fragrance. It's not overpowering and unobtrusive so it's perfect for the office or daytime wear, but sophisticated enough to transition into evening wear. Plus it lasts the whole day as well. The only downside is it's price. But I think this will be my new favorite for quite a while, so even though it's a little heavy on my budget, I'd still buy another one if I run out of it.

My verdict: Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey Florale perfume is a great, versatile perfume that's perfect for both daytime and evening wear. Highly recommended!

Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette: My New Favorite Eye Makeup

I was in Bangkok last month and did some shopping with my friends. Of course, I had to browse through the makeup section to see if I can add to my collections. I found this interesting palette - Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette.

I instantly liked it when the SA tried it on me. The colors are all so wearable. They are very pigmented and lasts all day on my eyelids. They are very soft and easy to blend. I can use the lighter shades for daytime looks but I can also create dramatic smokey eyes with just this palette. I love the warm tones of the palette and I feel like they highlight my medium brown eyes. I love both shimmery and matte eye makeup and this palette gives you both options. It may not be cheap, but I think this is worth every penny. I totally love it! :)

My verdict: Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow is a great versatile eye makeup palette. Highly recommended!

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil: My Favorite Makeup Remover/Cleansing Oil

I have combination skin and most of the time when I wear thicker foundation during parties, I have small whiteheads and red flaking skin the next few days. My friend suggested that I try Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil since she's been using it and it did wonders on her combination/acne-prone skin. I was a bit doubtful at first, but I had to give it a try since I was very frustrated with the whiteheads and some red flakiness that have been popping up. And I'm glad that I did.

It did remove all the makeup that I wore after the party that I went to last week. I knew that it did since before, after washing my face, I would use a toner and the cottonball that I would use would still have some residual makeup that I wore that night. This time, the cottonball that I used didn't have any trace of my makeup at all. Plus, I noticed that in the next few days, I didn't have the usual whiteheads breakout and red flaking skin. And because I have combination skin, my cheeks usually get a little dry in the middle of the day, however this time with the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, I don't have that problem anymore. I totally love this product! I think I won't ever do without Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. :)

My verdict: Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil is a great makeup remover/cleansing oil. Highly recommended!

Lancome™ Hypnose Mascara: My Favorite Eye Perker!

I've been staying away from mascara before since I have very sensitive eyes; my eyes get teary and quite red whenever I used mascara before. But during my cousin's wedding, I was "forced" to put mascara on since the makeup artist told me that my eyelashes are quite "blah" and needed some volume to make my eyes more perked up. So I gave in. He used Lancome™ Hypnose mascara on me. And I'm glad that he was able to convince me to do so. :)

The wedding was in Batangas and even though it's not yet summer, it was quite warm and humid. And from my experience before, warm temperature and humidity make the mascara smudge. Well, this time, it stayed the same all throughout the party and never flaked off. Plus it didn't make my eyes teary and red like the other mascaras I've tried. And I really liked how it perked my eyes up. Two thumbs up! I liked it so much that I bought one for myself. :)

My verdict: Lancome™ Hypnose mascara is a great mascara even for sensitive eyes. Highly recommended!

GeneO Facial: My New Favorite Facial Treatment!

I like facials, but sometimes, the pricking can be a little too much for me. Plus even though it cleans my face from all the clogged stuff, I still would have another treatment to make my skin get that rosy light glow (Oh yes, I'm that vain! LOL!).

I had 3 days of sun exposure when we went to Coron for the Chinese New Year, so I needed to have  my skin rejuvenation facial. So I asked my dermatologist, Dr. Corcoran, what other options I have. And I was lucky that they have the latest facial treatment in the Philippines - GeneO facial.

According to Dr. Corcoran, it's not only like your usual facial for removing blackheads, whiteheads and pimples, it also smoothens, tightens and lightens the face.  It has the newest TriPollar RF and the latest in Microdermabrasion which not only removes dead skin cells but also nourishes and oxygenates the skin for a healthy, pinkish and younger glow. With all those benefits, I had to try it!

This is my photo before the GeneO facial:

And here's my after GeneO facial photo:

Note that I seem to have makeup in my after-GeneO facial photo, but all I had was a little lip balm. My freckles lightened up and I seem to have a cheek tint. The results are amazing! As for the price, it's not really cheap; regular price is 5,000 pesos, though for February until March, they have a 20% Off Promo on GeneO facial. But, I really don't mind paying premium if the results are this good. :)

My verdict: GeneO Facial smoothens, tightens and lightens the skin, giving you a natural, younger, pinkish & glowing skin. Highly recommended!

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Roman Holiday: My New Favorite Pink Lip Pencil!

I admit, I'm a lipstick fiend. I do have quite dry lips so I stay away from lip pencils. But when I tried Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, I was hooked!

First off, the color that I bought, Roman Holiday, was the a perfect pink for my skin tone. And I don't have to put on too much since it's highly staining. It's has a creamy, velvety texture on the lips. And it lasts longer than my other lipsticks. The only drawback is that it's quite pricey - PhP1,450. But one of my friends who introduced it to me said that she got hers in September of last year and it's still halfway consumed. So I think it's worth the money.

My verdict: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is a great lip pencil. Highly recommended!

My Venus Freeze Experience: Flabby Arms No More!

For the past 2 years, I have been neglectful of my diet and fitness routine that I noticed that I gained so much weight. I also noticed that my usual lean arms became larger and flabbier. Plus I noticed some dimpling on my arms which I know are cellulites. Yukk!

Only a few weeks more to go before December, and even though I went back to the gym and watched what I was eating, the improvement was so slow. I felt that I had to do something more drastic. I talked to my dermatologist, Dr. Corcoran, about my dilemma and she suggested Venus Freeze, a new generation radiofrequency treatment with magnetic pulse technology. Dr. Corcoran said that it will not only take out the fats in my arms, it will also remove the cellulites and tighten the skin. She said that I need at least 6-8 sessions, done every week, to attain the leaner arms that I want. I researched on Venus Freeze in the web and it had great reviews so I decided to give it a try.

The Venus Freeze treatment sessions were quite comfortable. It was like having a hot stone massage. I was religious in going to the clinic every week and doing their after-care instructions of taking lots of water and being careful with my diet and having more exercise. This is a photo of my left arm a week after the 6th session.

The flabbiness was gone. I lost almost 2 inches in my arm girth. I also noticed that the dimply appearance, the cellulites in my arms were gone. I'm so happy with the results! :)

My verdict: Venus Freeze is an effective treatment to lose fats and cellulites. Highly recommended!

Maybelline Expert Wear Stylish Smokes Eyeshadow in Nutmeg: A Review

My aunt came home from the US a month ago and gave me a Maybelline Expert Wear Stylish Smokes Eyeshadow in Nutmeg as pasalubong.

I instantly liked how the eyeshadow highlighted my eyes. It's very buttery and glides on smoothly on my eyelids. It is a beautiful brown, matte color, and lasts as long as I put on some powder on my eyelids first. Another good thing is that it doesn't make my eyes red since I have very sensitive eyes and skin. I use it both as an eyeshadow and a filler on my eyebrows. I use it every single day. I also use it during our night outs and party nights since the color can be built up for a more dramatic effect.

My verdict: Maybelline Expert Wear Stylish Smokes Eyeshadow in Nutmeg is a perfect brown eyeshadow for both everyday use and special occasions. Highly recommended!

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen: A Review

I have been on the hunt for a better eyeliner since the Maybelline eyeliner that I was using was not too satisfactory for me. I saw a Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen at SM Department Store so I figured I might as well try it.

My first impression was the tip is so precise and it does make a very fine job of lining my eyes. The felt tip is rather easy to maneuver and much better than traditional liquid eyeliners. It is the right shade of black for my dark brown eyes. The only thing that I didn't like was that it kinda fades out after a few hours. Overall, I like it. 

My verdict: Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen is a good and easy to use eyeliner. I do recommend it.

Basement Salon - SM Aura: A Review

I haven't had time to go to the salon to have a haircut but last week, when I was in SM Aura, I saw that there's a Basement Salon branch there. The last time that I went to Basement Salon was 2 years ago in their Rockwell branch; I had my hair color done there and from my recollection, it was good. So I decided to go ahead and have a haircut in their SM Aura branch.

I wanted the best results since I didn't have time for a hair treatment that time, so I chose to have my haircut with their senior hair stylist, Jun. Mind you, it's a PhP 1,400 haircut so I expected really good results. But I was so disappointed. First off, I showed him the haircut that I liked to be done on me and he said that he could do it. Then, he tried to convince me to have their Permanent Blow Dry treatment so my hair will have more body. When I asked how much it will be, he said that it's PhP 9,400 for my hair! Talk about steep price! Oh well... But then even though I could afford it, it's a 3 hour treatment, so I told him that I will just return for it next time. Anyways, he was quick in doing my haircut and I just assumed that it's because he's a senior stylist and he's used to doing haircuts. But it was a haphazard job... I didn't have the hair style that I wanted and worse, I even had to cut some of the uneven ends after I took a shower the next day! :(

My verdict: Getting a haircut at Basement Salon in SM Aura will leave you disappointed. Not recommended at all!

Pandora Charm Bracelet: My Favorite Bling!

I was introduced to Pandora bracelet by my significant other for our anniversary last week. And I absolutely love it! He knows that I like girly stuff so he really hit the jackpot in this.

First, it is in color pink, which I absolutely love. Then, I learned that I can add more beads and customize it for my taste. Thus, no two Pandora bracelets will ever be the same. So I can add my own unique style in it. I also like that the beads are very high quality and not cheap-looking.

My verdict: Pandora charm bracelets are really nice and customizable accessories to fit your own unique style. Highly recommended!

Celestial Infusion: Super Fast Skin Lightening Results!

Ok, I'm not one who would fall for some hype especially on skin lightening if I haven't tried it, but I have to really blog about this. Last Friday, I went to my dermatologist, Dr. Corcoran and saw their new treatment on display - Celestial Infusion. I got curious so I asked Dr. Corcoran about it. She said that it's megadose of glutathione (5,000 mg) with collagen, vitamin C and E, placenta, vitamin B and some other whitening boosters, which will yield super fast results in as little as an hour after the session. Also, the skin lightening will be more of a pinkish healthy glow which I really need because of the sun damage that I had with the summer sun (of course I did enjoy the summer with the beach and hiking, etc). So I gave it a try. Here's a photo of my right hand before the Celestial Infusion:

Here's a photo of my right hand right after the Celestial Infusion:

Note the band aid since the needle was placed in one of the veins in my right hand. But it was truly amazing how fast the skin lightening was. And what's more, the skin lightening was pinkish and healthy-looking. Another benefit - my groin area that had some dark spots due to friction from jogging/running turned lighter as well. My friends were also surprised since they saw me the day before my Celestial infusion and then the next day after the treatment. I was able to convince 2 of them to go to my derma's clinic. LOL!

My verdict: Celestial Infusion has super fast skin lightening results even right after the treatment. Plus the skin lightening has a pinkish, healthy glow. Highly recommended!

Chloe Eau de Parfum: My New Favorite All-Time Scent

I was on the lookout for a new everyday scent for sometime now. I tried different scents, but I still wasn't satisfied. I wanted a floral scent without being too sweet and cloying. Good thing that I found my match with Chloe Eau de Parfum.

The scent is a beautiful and simple scent - rose and peony with some hint of lily of the valley and honey. I wore it at a party last week and I got a lot of compliments. The good thing about it is that it can also be worn on a night out since it has a nice, sexy charm about it. My significant other loves it on me and that's another plus. Oh, and it lasts the whole day until night time. I was about to go home one evening when a co-worker said that I smell lovely and she asked what I was wearing. I couldn't believe she could still smell it!

My verdict: Chloe Eau de Parfum is a great day and night scent. Highly recommended!