Going Lip Balm Crazy

I'm not really a lip balm person. I just need one that works which i can use to prime my lips before putting on lipstick and at night before going to sleep. My then all-around lipbalm was the eos egg-shaped one, which I admit I bought because the packaging was so darn cute and not because of its moisturizing properties, which don't get me wrong was actually good. But then one morning I suddenly woke up with red, swollen, windburnt lips that hurt like hell, thus making me go lip balm crazy. And since I am very bored right now, I decided to make a mini review on the lip balms I now own in my attempt to get rid of windburnt lips.

The CO bigelow Mentha lip tint. This is actually a lip tint but I have relatives in the US who swear by this during the winter season, and one would think that this would provide me more than enough hydration, living here in hot, humid manila, but noooo it did nothing for the windburn. Probably because this tastes so yummy that I'm unconsciously licking it off that I'm npt giving it a chance to work its magic.

Mentholatum Lip Gel. I came across a blog entry many months ago that this is an inexpensive alternative to the kiehl's lip balm, but since I don't own the latter I can't agree nor disagree with that blogger. Anyway, I tried to use this before bed and though it provided immediate windburn relief, It doesn't last very long on the lips and when the product dries up, the pain and swelling comes back. This smells like tiger balm (but it goes away after a while) and has the consistency of petroleum jelly.

Lip ice Sheer Color. This is one of my favorite lip balms, because this provides the lipcolor and staying power of a lip tint but because it's a lip balm, it doesn't dry out your lips. What i love about this product is that it gives me smudge-free lipcolor and it doesn't feel sticky nor heavy.

I forgot the name of this product, but I do know that is also a lip ice product and is a tinted lip balm. I have had this for quite a while now, I bought this in Hongkong but this is also available here in Manila, although this shade (wild coral) is not. Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures but in person this lip balm is orangey-pink in color. This goes on a little sheer, and you have to swipe it on about 5 times for the color to show up on the lips, but it's ok because like the sheer color one, it's not sticky nor heavy on the lips.

Nivea Essential Care. The simplest lip balm in the bunch. White (but goes on clear), scentless, and provided immediate relief from windburn. And cheap too! I think this only costs a little over 100 php in watson's. It's waxy and heavy on the lips but not too greasy.

Venus and Mars Smooch Lip Detox. This is also a favorite, I'm on my second tube now. My back up lip balm, I sometimes use this before bed or when I'm "detoxing" my lips from lipstick. I rarely use this as a primer for my lipcolors because this is too greasy that it'll turn even the mattest ones into a lip gloss-y finish. This would have sufficed in curing my windburnt lips that I didn't need to go on a crazy lip balm shopping spree if it weren't for the strong peppermint scent which on ordinary days I love but stung (a lot!!!!) when i tried putting it on at the time.

Maybelline Baby Lips Glow in baby pink. This smells like gummy bears! Not too waxy, but leaves some sort of waxy residue on the lips if overapplied. I bought this thinking it'll be like the lip ice sheer color and it is, but unlike it this leaves on a very, very sheer shade of pink (almost non-existent lol) on the lips. There's another shade available, I think it's called pink blast, and maybe that would have showed up better on my lips.

Human Heart Nature lip balm in Tutti Frutti. I have had this for quite a while too, but I don't think I will repurchase when this runs out because even if it's actually a great balm for healthy lips, (did nothing for my windburn), there's nothing too remarkable about it either. However, I like it that it's not too waxy, provides an adequate amount of moisture, smells like juicy fruit gum, and a great primer for lipsticks too.

Carmex Cherry Click stick. This too stings a little when applied but it didn't hurt as much as the venus and mars one. The cherry scent is nice but somehow I can still smell the distinct carmex smell which prevents me from using this more often. It does its job well though, and moisturizes the lips for quite a long time.


I won't be shopping for lip balms in a really long time haha. I still have windburn though, but only during the times that i fail to reapply one of them lip balms when the product has already dried up on my lips, like when i wake up in the morning or when i am too busy at work.

Wrapping up 2011

I know it's a bit early for this entry since we have 3 days to go before 2011 ends, but I won't have time to do this anymore since I was unlucky enough to be on the new years' eve duty. Besides, an entry like this is in order because I recently went through something not so happy which I won't go into much detail of, but before I could possibly go into the realm of saying (in my head at least) that 2011 was horrible to me, I suddenly remembered all the blessings I received this year. Maybe it's one of my brain's defense mechanisms kicking in, but I refuse to write off this year as a terrible one because during 2011, these happened:

Hong Kong/Macau January 2011

Baguio February 2011 not only once...

but twice! Baguio March 2011

Puerto Princesa April 2011

Finally got a job, and met awesome, wonderful people

Queza and Cocoy's wedding

Cat and Oli's wedding

Novemboracay!!!!!! (Yes, the multiple exclamation points are necessary haha)

...And countless other parties and spontaneous gatherings. Here's to more awesomeness in the year 2012!

Pink!!

I was supposed to just discreetly email these photos to shensaddiction@gmail.com as an entry to the lip ice contest, but I was bored and haven't blogged in a REAAAAAAALLY long time, I decided to make a blog entry out of it. Anyway about the FOTD, this is one of the looks I usually sport for work when I was an emergency room nurse. Yes, including the shocking pink lip color. This may be too bright for some people seeing as I work in a hospital but I have been robbed off the opportunity to dress up for work when I decided to be a nurse and this is my way of making up for it. By the way, please excuse the ratty shirt, brows that desperately need grooming, and the girl-stache. Hahahaha



I normally prefer elaborate eyeshadow looks paired with a toned-down lip color but for work I do the opposite mainly because I like to take my time in piling on different eyeshadow colors and blending them together. I was having a hard time (aka being dim-witted haha) with my cousin's SLR, so I wasn't able to capture the real color of the lipstick. I swear it's brighter and pinker in person, I think the flash sort of washed out the color and I wasn't able to figure out how to turn it off hahaha.

Face:
-Revlon colorstay foundation mixed with st ives moisturizer
-Palladio Rice Powder
-Marykay concealer in light ivory
-Benefit dandelion



Eyes:
-urban decay primer potion
-the orange-peachy color with chunky orange sparkles from the lancome 4sunset palette on lid and lower lash line
-ellana mpm in laugh on upper and lower lash lines, applied with a few drops of glycerine-water mixture
-maybelline volum express mascara




Lips:
-alba vanilla lip balm
-the color collection spa therapy lipstick in rose shower (from the tupperware catalog haha)

Taken with my camera phone because the bulky SLR is not too camwhore-friendly hahaha:



And this is how I usually smile for pictures hahaha


Please click here for the contest details. Get a chance to win a lip ice gift pack! Deadline is on December 23, 2010. And to follow the contest mechanics, I find ways to make my days brighter by looking at, talking about, and shopping for make up. Seriously!

Review: Human Heart Nature Honey Facial Cleanser and Makeup Remover

The secret to having good skin is not really a secret. We read about in magazines all the time, and almost every movie star, model, etc talks about it, and that is to remove all traces of makeup before going to bed. In the advent of long-wearing make up, sometimes our good old facial wash/soap is not enough to do the job. That is why we need a good makeup remover. It’s a bit trickier for me because not only do I need a makeup remover because I rarely go out of the house without make up on, but it has to be cheap. In comes Human Heart Nature, an organic skin care line that is proudly Philippine-made, and accessible too. Well for me at least because there is an HHN shop about 5-10 minutes away on foot from where I am working right now. I was still happy with my current skin care regimen that it did not occur to me to try their other products, so what I only bought was the make up remover, which was what I desperately needed at that time. The other HHN products look promising though, here's their website for more information on how to order etc etc. Oh and here's another website to check out for reviews on other HHN products.



What the website says:
Beautiful skin starts with a BEE! Honey is an all-in-one skin saver – an excellent moisturizer, rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. This cream gently removes make-up and grime while keeping your skin soft and clean without the irritation


This is basically your typical facial cleanser. In the bottle it says that after patting this all over your face, you can either use tissue to (gently!) wipe the cream off or rinse with water. In my case I do both.



Likes:

• Cheap! The 100ml bottle costs 99 pesos, and has lasted me about 3-4 months even with multiple applications
• The bottle has a pump dispenser thingie so it’s sanitary
• Organic, it doesn’t have toxic substances that can harm my skin
• Unscented
• Didn't cause pimples or breakouts
  
• Doesn’t leave my face oily or sticky afterwards, it just feels like I had moisturizer on even if I had just rinsed my face with water
  

Dislikes

• It usually takes me 2 applications and tissue offs to remove all traces of make up from my face. 3 on my eyelids because I use Urban Decay Primer Potion.
• The texture. I prefer liquid-type removers when removing my eye makeup, but I do love using this for the rest of my face
• Causes temporary blurring of vision and blindness (hahaha) or maybe I just need to change my technique?
• Does not remove all traces of mascara

Will I repurchase? Hmm probably if I still don’t have money when I run out of this. Over all this is a good product to have especially for someone like me who is on a tight budget, but still wants to take good care of her skin. I just wanted to try something else :D

*Picture and information taken from the HHN website

The 2010 To-do List

This year's Christmas Eve celebration was THE worst one I have had. Ever. Such a shame too because it is my favorite holiday, I even love it more than my birthday. I won't go through the details, but there was a bit of family drama, and everyone is hypersensitive these days because our grandma has been in the ICU for the past 2 weeks, and well, we are all worried and sad. Actually, I am just sad but not worried because she is in a hospital, and I don't know maybe I find hospitals comforting in the sense that I know if ever something happens (like another bodily dysfunction or whatever), she is in a place full of medical professionals who can come to her rescue the moment it happens.

Anyway there are a few days left in 2009 and I think the time is ripe for new year's resolutions, or what I like to call my "to-do" list. Not that I was able to accomplish everything that was on last year's (actually I'm too lazy to go through my previous blogs' archives to look for the said list and I'm not really sure if I was able to accomplish anything at all hahaha) but what the heck I'm bored and there's no penalty for wishful thinking anyway. We never know, maybe this year I could actually get to keep one resolution until December of next year hahaha.

In the year 2010 I plan to:

• Update my blog more often. I have sort of moved to blogspot to give beauty blogging a try, but I am still keeping my livejournal for more "personal" entries
• Ask my photography-lovin, SLR-ownin friends (hahahaha) to teach me how to use my regular digicam to make the freakin eyeshadow colors pop.
• Try not to be late for work. I don't really get reprimanded for arriving after endorsement (and at times after rounds hahaha), and there's no salary to be deducted from as penalty for being late, but it wouldn't hurt me to try to show up for work on time. Like once a week maybe? Hahaha just kidding.
• Lose weight and do a bit of lifestyle modifications. I did not feel so good after the AIF christmas party wherein I scarfed down on 2 palm-sized slabs of beef, lots of chocolate, alcohol, and junk food. Plus I went home around 3:30 am and I had to go to my cousin's daughter's baptism the next day. My blood pressure shot up a bit during the baptism's after party which I was not able to enjoy much because I couldn't participate fully in the activities, i.e. drinking and overeating. I know this has been on my new year's resolutions list every effin year but instead of losing I seem to be gaining weight but it has become a tradition of mine so here it is again.
• Stop spending a huge chunk of my allowance on beauty products
• Start Odesk already. Seeing as I won't be getting hired as a regular, salary-earning employee anywhere anytime soon. The waiting lists are so long, it'll be a miracle if I get hired before my volunteer experience turns a year old. I need money!!!
• Read 50 books

Cross-posted on http://kikayfetz.blogspot.com

As I was saying on the first item on my new year's to-do list, I am sort of moving to blogspot. I have like six entries on it, mostly about make up, but I am hoping to post product and book reviews as well. Please do check it out if you have the time, or better yet, be a follower! Hahahahaha As of the moment I have 12 followers and one active commenter (Hi Maui!! Hehehehe). Suggestions on how to improve my blog and what you want me to blog about are welcome :)

Adopt A BB Cream This 2010!

Please click on the picture for more information on the contest details. Anyway, I would like to be this BB Cream's new mother simply because I have read so many good things about BB creams but I have yet to try it out for myself. The reason why I haven't is because I find the ones from Skin Food too expensive (I'm still on a student allowance so I cannot afford to shell out a thousand pesos on something my skin might not agree on) and I am not really comfortable with buying make up online, because I wanted to try and swatch the product on the back of my hand first. Really. It took me awhile to get on the mineral makeup bandwagon and I only did when Ellana had a booth on SM Makati. Anyway, thanks to The Beauty Bin and Babyjaprn for having this contest! I hope I win! Hahahaha

Strawberry Fudge

I was bored and decided to play with my stash. Strawberry Fudge is a Clinique eyeshadow trio I have that I do not get to use a lot, not because the colors are not wearable for daily use, but because I sort of forgot that I had it. Mine is a sample (from those Clinique gift promo things), that's why it's a trio but I think the full-sized shadow set is a duo. Still with me? LOL Anyway, just an EOTD because I was too lazy to put on foundation.

Super ungroomed brows!

Things used:
-E.l.f. tone-correcting concealer then clarifying face powder on top, both in Apricot Beige
-Sinful Colors Eyeshadow stick in Diamonds and Pearls as a base
-Pink on the lid and lower lashline, dark brown on the crease, white on the brow bone, from the Strawberry Fudge Trio
-Black eyeshadow on the outer v and lower lashline from the g-lish smoky eye trio
-Maybelline liquid eyeliner

My lovable BENQ reflected on the dirty mirror LOL

I skipped the mascara so that make up removal won't be too much of a pain in the ass later on. The pink shadow had gold sparkles and looks almost exactly like the Careline pink loose powder eyeshadow, which I also have. Maybe that's why I don't use this trio a lot.

In natural lighting

My camera washed out the colors as usual. I even tried to take pictures outside in our backyard so that I will be in natural lighting. It did work on the eyeshadow pallettes though.

MESA Photoshoot

The cast and crew (L-R Miel Nkanta, Fetz Serdena, Leia Gutierrez, Ego Faylona (on the chair), Alexandra Lapa, Sarah Galaroza)

Photography: Ego Faylona and Neil Cuestas
Stylist: Alexandra Lapa
Gown by: Mae Aguinaldo/MESA Designer Wear & Stylist's own
Models: Sarah Galaroza and Miel Nkanta
Make-up: Leia Gutierrez and Fetz Serdena
Location: The Living Room Studio

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This was my very first photoshoot, both as a makeup artist and spectator (LOL). Please click here and here for the non-makeup part of the shoot.

I had an awesome time. It didn’t feel like work at all. I think the experience was comparable to a poker game or shooting hoops with the boys (if I were a guy that is LOL). Had I finished college and gotten a real job four years ago like I was supposed to and if I had more money, this would be the perfect time for a career shift. My friend, the stylist for this shoot is taking styling classes (?) and we can do our portfolios and get famous (LOL) together. But my nursing career hasn’t quite started just yet, and make up classes would cost a lot of money. Not to mention the “school supplies”. But I still want to take make up classes and shop for “school supplies”, maybe in the near future when I have more money? Anyway, right now youtube videos and beauty blogs would have to suffice. I really, really need to learn contouring eyebrow lining and shaping, and how to apply concealer properly.

I was given a week’s notice to practice, but on the morning of the shooting day, I still found myself watching make up tutorials on youtube. Yep I’m the queen of cramming LOL. I was nervous. I mean sure I’ve been dabbling with make up for the past 4 years and lately all I do in my spare time is read beauty blogs and watch tutorials but this is the first time that I have been asked to do a certain look

(because usually I just stare at my eye shadows until inspiration comes LOL), plus it’s going to be photographed and will appear in somebody’s portfolio. Yikes. Anyway, here are the pictures:

We had a little problem with the foundation. As you can see from the pictures, the model, Miel's skin color is super different as compared to mine, and since I am not a professional makeup artist, I don't have multiple shades of foundation in my kit. The darkest foundation we could borrow still looked a shade lighter than her skin. Thankfully when we did the test shots, the foundation blended with her skin tone.

Face:

-Revlon Mineral Mousse (?) Foundation in the darkest shade. I wasn’t sure about the name because it wasn’t mine and I think I would like to purchase this for myself when I get tired of my tinted sunblock + mineral make up routine because like what I have said in the previous paragraph, it blends beautifully on the skin.

-Ellana Mineral Finishing Powder (Oil Absorbing Finish) in Pumpkin Pie Latte..I think. LOL because again, this powder is not from my own kit but I also want to buy a jar of this for myself because it didn’t change the color of the foundation, even though the powder looked way too light for the model’s skin tone, and I think it could be a cheaper alternative for the Mac Blot Powder which I have been lemming on for the past 2 years now LOL

-E.l.f. tone-correcting concealer in Apricot Beige

-The Body Shop blush-on (Of course it still wasn’t mine LOL)

-Some highlighter thingamajig from The Body Shop, applied on the brow bone, cheekbones, nose bridge, and chin.

Eyes:

-Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin. Still not mine. LOL Does UDPP come in another shade? When I went over to a friend’s house to play with make up, she had a tube of UDPP and I swear it was a yellowish shade. Sin is sort of pinkish/beigish I think? Anyway I want a tube of this baby too! Unless I can find a primer that works, is cheaper, and locally available first.

-Lancome eye shadow in limelight and Careline eye shadow powder applied all over the lids, inner corners, and lower lashline

-Matte black eye shadow from the Patrick Rosas smoky eye shadow trio on the outer v and crease

-Maybelline studio something pencil eyeliner in black. Still not mine.

-Maybelline Lash Stiletto. Miel had very nice lashes that I didn’t need to use an eyelash curler on her, and she looked like she had false lashes on after I applied the mascara. Lucky, lucky girl!!

I exaggerated the outer v a little. So I guess I should call it an outer y instead? LOL I’m such a dork. Anyway I was having second thoughts about the outer v thing because I still wasn’t so good at it. The stylist wanted green smoky eyes, and I was deciding between two of the eye shadow styles I have done a hundred times: first was a dark green color on the lid and lower lash line and thick black eyeliner. The second choice was light green shadow as a base then dark green on the crease. I’m glad I took a risk and did an outer v instead. It’s a fashion photo shoot anyway, and the stylist did say she wanted a dramatic eye make up.

Before the unleashing of Miel's fabulous hair (Not really one of my flattering angles I know LOL)

Lips:

-Chapstick

-Clinique Lipstick in Perfect Beige

-Nude-pink lipliner from The Face Shop.

I love love her hair! And she’s a modeling natural! I love how she does her “model” face in front of the camera and when we’re not shooting, she’s actually really down to earth and goofy.

Pictures grabbed from http://www.reluctantstylista.com. The crappy shots (including the goofy picture and close up ones of Miel's face) are from my digital camera.

Giving Green A Go

My apologies for the dorky blog entry titles since the previous purple one. Anyway this is another look I did to practice for my friend's shoot. My face looks lighter than my neck because I seem to have gone overboard on the foundation and didn't realize it until I took these pictures. I decided to tie my hair back and not use lipstick or gloss (just carmex lip balm) because I am going out for errands after I did my practice make up for the day, and I didn't want to look overdone or anything. Plus I wanted the focus to be on my eye makeup. Same reason why I didn't wear earrings either. I am still road testing my new elf blending brush, and I am not used to the size of the brush head that I didn't realize I was putting the crease color on my brow bone already until it was time to apply the highlight shade. I had to remedy it with cotton buds and make up remover LOL and I kinda messed it up that's why the asymmetry of the shape of my eyes was a bit obvious.

Messy hair as always LOL

Face:
L'Oreal UV Perfect (Even Complexion)
Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation in medium tan
Physician's Formula Color Corrector in Green
Mary Kay Signature Concealer in Light Ivory
Bare Escentuals Well-rested Multi-tasking Eye

The camera's flash washed the colors out :( The eyeshadow is really darker than it looks in here

Eyes:
Mary Kay Signature Concealer in Light Ivory
Sinful Colors Eyeshadow Stick in Diamonds and Pearls used as a base
Lancome Eyeshadow in Limelight on the lid and lower lash line
Careline Eyeshadow Powder in Green Luster on the lid
Lancome Eyeshadow in Blink on the crease
Black matte eyeshadow from the Patrick Rosas G-lish Smoky eyeshadow trio on the crease and outer corner, and used as an eyeliner
White eyeshadow also from Smoky eyeshadow trio on the brow bone
Maybelline Lash Stilletto

Practicing Purple

I think my picture-taking skills are improving. Well as compared to my first attempt anyway. So, I made a purple eotd because I am practicing for a friend's shoot for Saturday, I am helping out with the make up. I have to admit I am bit scared because make up for me is a hobby, kinda like reading or video games, and this shoot will be my first time to practice this said hobby sort of professionally.

Please excuse the messy hair.

Face:
L'Oreal UV Perfect (Even Complexion)
Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation in medium tan
Physician's Formula Color Corrector in Green
Mary Kay Signature Concealer in Light Ivory
Bare Escentuals Well-rested Multi-tasking Eye



Eyes:
Mary Kay Signature Concealer as base/primer
Careline Eyeshadow Powder in Pale Violet all over the lid
Lancome Color Focus Eyeshadow in Blink on the crease
Careline Eyeshadow Powder in Mestiza White on the browbone
Ellana Mineral Eyeshadow in Laugh on the upper and lower lashline, used as an eyeliner
Maybelline Lash Stilletto in Black

Lips:
Clinique lipstick in Perfect Beige
New York Color Lipgloss, in a peachy-pink shade with glitters

Yep I need to practice, practice, practice. Especially the outer-v thing. The careline eyeshadows are surprisingly pigmented, but do not last long. I mean what can we expect with 80 pesos?

After seeing these pictures, I think I went from scared to being terrified.

6 Things I Love

Just replying to a tag from my fellow kikay nars Cindy. And because I am bored, and my thoughts are too scattered to form a single coherent entry. In random order:


1. Books. This is a picture of my then meager collection, taken around May 2008 I think. Yes, I love Chuck Palahniuk. I was fortunate enough to be living with a cousin who's a book shopaholic because I don't have to buy a lot of books.












2. Food. This is a picture of Pepper Lunch's Beef Pepper Rice. I am just craving for this but really, I love to eat anything and everything.






3. Nintendo DS. I actually own the crimson red model but only because the metallic rose one (as shown in this picture) was not available at that time. This baby was a passing-the-local-boards-slash-welcome-home gift from the parents last year and this really saved me from boredom on the first few days that I didn't have an internet connection. Nowadays I don't get to play it that much, because of number 1 love and number 4, which is..


4. Google Reader. I lurk a lot of beauty blogs lately because of my enormous amounts of freetime, and this nifty little program (software? whatever hahaha) makes it easier for me. Now my bookmarks are not that cluttered anymore, I don't have to click on each and every blog link to know whether a certain blogger has updated her blog or not because google reader shows me when this happens, and marks certain posts as unread or new. I know my explanation is sort of unclear but really everyone should try this because it is an incredible time-saver! Plus I can access my subscriptions (aka the blogs that I stalk/follow LOL) on another computer because it works just like an email account. I think I should have just said this in the first place LOL



5. Make up. It's an expensive hobby and since I do not get paid for this pseudo job I have, I have to satisfy myself with gawking at other peoples' make up stashes and hauls. I am not complaining though, because I do have make up stuff to play with, it's just that I WANT MORE!!! LOL





6. Scrub suits. This is one of the few things to love about my profession. Ironically this is one of the reasons why I didn't want to take up nursing in the first place because I am a fan of dressing up but after my first shift (and night out LOL) in these things, I realized how comfy they are and maybe they're not as bad as I thought. I still wouldn't wear this say, when going out or on gimik nights, but really I sometimes I don't mind being robbed of the opportunity to dress up for work anymore.