July 29, 2014

Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture


Remember my flowery back-drop from my blushers series? Well here it goes again, for this post only (hoping that when I visit my sister, I'll have a product photo session again because they look lovely...they look lovely right? please agree!).  Let's get back to the main element of the above photo though and I must say it's the priciest toner skincare product I ever bought but still worth it!

I thought that Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture is an essence (which explains why I bought it because by the time I ordered this I told myself that I would "amplify" my skincare and I'll start with an essence but, toink I didn't research much and rely on the "refiner" word...it's as if the beauty world is saying "your okay with your cleansers, now on with the toner...don't skip upgrading it, lady it's an important product").  "Skin Refiner" who wouldn't want a product that can refine the skin especially when your pores are awkwardly big?  Fact by the way, pores don't open and close and two of the main reasons why they appear to look "open" is one, it's clog with hardened sebum and dirt and two, it's not "toned" you know when you wash your face it requires some hours before it can get back to it's normal condition before you can apply other stuff like skincare and makeup and that's why Toner was born: it tones/conditions and prep the skin for the next step!


Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture is perfect for boys and girls that have dry skin like me because it really has some moisturizing thing to it...I actually lost the paper that list the ingredients so I don't know what specific stuff does it.  Also, it has a bit of an alcohol smell maybe from some low concentrated acid which I found out to be okay to be present in toners because it acts like a mild daily peel/exfoliant for the skin...just remember though that it should be mild, ditch those strong astringent your skin may not handle it!  If I go over that mild alcohol scent, this toner smells nice and clean.

For the effect, this toner is one of the reason why my skin is soft and looking smooth as if my before big pores we're blurred so they look smaller now so I can say that it does it's job in toning/conditioning the skin.  It says in the description that it's "Moisturizing skin refiner with purifying and softening effect for clear skin" -not 100% sure about the purifying part because I still have blackheads and whiteheads but my skin is clearer than before.

It's a very nice toner with very pretty packaging (I had a hard time throwing the box because it's well put together and I think I'll also have a hard time letting go of the container, I wish I can find a way to recycle it) and it also has a really really "nice" price, I know there are a lot of girls there that really invest on products and will think that this has a cheap price but for me, it's already pricey but considering how well it perform, it's still a good buy!

I think that's all I have to say for this toner.  I'll just leave you with this more colorful photo (than the first photo which is more on the dreamy side).





July 19, 2014

My Other Brushes


The hairs of my powder brush are falling which is sad and made me think to make this post.  I already shared with you my ecotools mini brush set now let's turn the spotlight to the rest of my humble brushes.  These are not expensive and two of them we're just given to me.

Let's first talked about the two brushes from Artist Studio (the ones with bronze and black handles); a brand which is recommended by many bloggers for beginners as they are affordable and decent enough to be used on a daily basis.  The first that I got is the powder brush which is fluffly, soft, dense and gentle enough for the face.  I usually use this to blend my blushers not as a powder brush because I rarely use powders on my face.  After months and months of using it, it is finally showing some signs of wear as its hair are slowly falling on an everyday basis.

The other brush that I got from Artist Studio is the eyeliner/brow brush.  I bought this for the sake of me having a brow brush when I got frustrated at fixing my brows (I already accepted the fact that my brows are straight and looking sad now).  Now, I only use this to practice on how to line my eyes with the black eyeshadow that I have.  The bristles of this is very sturdy and I think this is a bit too thick to be used as a gel/liquid eyeliner brush (but I might be wrong, remember that I'm not an expert).



The one with the cream wooden handle is a dual ended eyeshadow blending brush from Blush handed down to me by my sister.  She actually gave me a set but gave the rest back to her when I moved to a new place.  I like the brown eyeshadow end since it's soft enough and can cover my whole lids in one swipe.  The black blending brush though is so harsh, I rarely used it and it bleeds when I clean it.

The last one is from Jasmine La Belle(?) which was also just given to me (in a mini set, but I only kept this one).  It says shade on the handle but I use this to soften my eyeshadows or highlight my inner corners (when I'm practicing on my makeup "skills") or put extra shadows on my crease since it's soft and small enough for those areas.


I still have a flat top mini kabuki but I forgot to include it in the photos, maybe I'll just show it to you next time.

July 18, 2014

My Daily Makeup


I want my everyday makeup to be simple and can be done within 5 minutes with minimal or no tools at all that's why most of the time I use only 3 items which is enough to brighten and give a nice color to my face.  There are times though that I use more when I wanted to layer on products or I'm in the mood to spare some time.  Here are my basic list of my daily/everyday makeup.

Primer
After my skincare routine I usually grab a primer.  My usual primer should already have an spf and a little tint to it so I can skip bb cream or foundation.  Additional feature is the brightening effect and so far It's Skin Star Cream (the one with stars on the lid) tick all my needs.  As of the moment, I also have a balm type of primer from A'pieu which I used when I still have a foundation at hand.

BB Cream/Foundation
When I needed more coverage, I go for bb cream instead of primer or if it's foundation that I'm opting for then a primer is a must since foundations tend to look dry and patchy on my face.  Overall, I only use bb cream/foundation when I'm going for something "heavy looking" makeup or if I wanted to look more put together.

Blushers
A nice color on my cheeks is always welcome since I have dull face.  I usually go for something peachy and sun kissed/orangey type of blush since they compliment my skintone (I found out mine when the makeup artist put something orange on my graduation pictorial).  They say that to know the perfect blush color, pinch your cheeks or jog and whatever is the color of your cheeks at that moment is the best hue to suit your skintone.  I also like to layer my blushers to have that gradiation-more natural-almost blushing effect.

Lip Balm
Be it plain or tinted, lip balm is a must for me to avoid the chaps.  I have naturally dry lips and I sometimes have the habit of licking them which makes my puckers more dry.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies


Here's another recipe that I got from Bake Happy Manila to change my usual salted chocolate chip cookies.  Surprise though that  it doesn't require a lot of oatmeal, so I increased the amount to almost a cup.  For the taste, I wouldn't lie: the first to two bites are like "meh, I'm not liking this" but as I and my family consume more the cookie tasted better and better and by the last bite we are happy, contented and full (though our hands wanted to grab for another).

The original recipe is for a coco one instead of oatmeal and it calls for a walnut not almond but hey, almonds are way cheaper and I made these cookies when I was on a very tight budget and don't know where to get my fundings for my bake goods.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
adopted from Ronald Donado's Coco Choco Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 ½ cups brown sugar
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. vanila extract
1 egg, room temperature
2 cups all purpose flour
1 ¼ tsp. baking posder
around 3/4 cup of oatmeal (I used two small pack of Quaker Oat's instant oatmeal)
1 cup or more semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup or more chopped almonds


How to:
1. Place butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and salt.
2. Beat in egg.
3. Add sifted flour, baking powder and desiccated coconut. Beat just to combine, do not overmix.
4. Fold in chocolate chips and chopped alomonds.
5. Drop tablespoon of mixture onto greased and floured baking trays and bake for 12-15 minutes at 180° C. 6. After baking, transfer into a wire rack to cool.



Grab a glass of milk and watch your favorite shows or read a book! 


July 17, 2014

Just Some Products in My Closet

It took me three photo sessions just for me to get decent photos for this post and the post before this, the new place where I moved in just don't have enough natural lighting (and props, now I miss my niece cork board) so forgive the uneven color and blurriness of my pictures.


I love aloe gel and tried some from a couple of brands namely Nature Republic and It's Skin and so far this is the one with the most aloe on it at 95%.  The Saem Big Brother Soothing Aloe Gel offers the same goodness of the aloe gels I used:  it's soothing, refreshing and lightly moisturizers the skin without being sticky...it's a good companion on summer days especially when it's as if the skin is hot and burning as this can cool it down.  This one from The Saem is more jiggly (comparing it with Nature Republic's) and is not clumpy (comparing it with It's Skin's).  I like that it has more aloe but based on availability (I pre-ordered this) and affordability (because of the shipping fee), I'd chose Nature Republic (which is most of the time available in the malls that I go to).


I got this Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Cream for free when I bought the serum from the same line...and I don't like it.  It has the same instant almost like erasing and smoothing of the skin like a primer would do effect but this one gives mini bumps on my face.  I thought the bumps would start to go away after 2 weeks of using but they just multiply so I used this instead on my feet but it's sticky and I feel a little itchiness from using it so I just have to give up on this product.  Also, I feel some grittiness when I apply it on my face, I don't know where it's coming from since the cream looks smooth.


This mist is an impulse buy when I was strolling in a mall while everyone seems to be panic buying plus it's from a brand that is new to my eyes and I can't believe that it's under Samsung!  A regular type of mist from a spray bottle which I hate because it doesn't sprit evenly (sometimes it squirts) and upon browsing mist from other brands, it hits me that I could have gotten a mist with a better packaging with what I paid for this but anyway, this is a handy mist that instantly refreshes my face without drying it or sets my makeup or tone down a bb cream when I apply slightly too much and it can also be use as a toner.  I don't know about the effect of the Coenzyme Q10 in it since I don't regularly use this stuff.

July 16, 2014

Milk and Cheese Cupcake


I joined a baking community in facebook (Bake Happy Manila) wherein members share their achievements and woes in baking plus tips and recipes of course and Milk and Cheese Cupcake was just trending last quarter so I just got to try it and it was one of the simplest yet tastiest cupcake I ever tried (and everybody loves it).  The sweetness of the condense milk and the saltiness of the cheese are perfect match and the soft yet dense "cake" makes you forget about frosting that fansifies a cupcake.


Milk and Cheese Cupcake

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
3 eggs
2 330ml cans condensed milk
2 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup grated cheese

How to:
1.  Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2.  Beat in eggs one at a time.
3.  Add condensed milk and mix well.
4.  Sift in all purpose flour and baking powder and mix until combined.
5.  Stir in vanilla.
6.  Add 3/4 cups of the grated cheese and mix well (but don't overmix.)
7.  Pour into lined muffin/cupcake pans and sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on top.
8.  Bake on a pre-heated oven (350 degrees F) for 20 to 25 minutes or until cupcakes are golden brown and toothpick inserted comes off clean.
9.  Let it cool and dig in!

this batch needs more cheese on top

Pair with tea or black coffee!

July 15, 2014

Fancied de Lata: Sinigang na Corned Beef


Half of my working life I guess I bring packed lunch for me to save money and at the same time monitor what I eat.  Half of the time too, my officemates are curious about the dish or to them "experiment" I'm bringing like this Sinigang na Corned Beef which is a sour soup with corned beef and potatoes.  I thought that this is a common dish but it turns out it's unheard by many and is just starting to show in the menus of the restaurant (but they use real corned beef instead).

Sinigang is one of my favorite food be it with fish or pork or beef.  I just love how it makes me salivate by just sniffing at it.  The broth has lot of variation but the original I guess is the tamarind.  Aside from the meat, it also has lots of vegetables on it which makes me a little bit of a healthy eater.  There are times that I just crave for it but meat and vegetables are not always available in our fridge and I'm so glad that our family knows this instant dish.

Sinigang na Corned Beef

Ingredients:
1 tbsp. oil
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 medium sized tomatoes, diced
1 big potato, diced
a can of 210grams corned beef, use those with long strands (I use purefoods')
half liter of water (or a little bit more, I'm just eyeballing it)
1 green chili (siling haba) for a nice bitterness and mild spicyness
sinigang or tamarind mix, optional
salt and pepper to taste

How to:
1.  Heat the oil and saute onion followed by garlic.
2.  Add in the tomatoes and saute until tender and almost mushy.  Add the potatoes and cooked until almost tender.
3.  Add the corned beef and cooked for around 5 minutes.
4. Add the water and let it simmer.
5. Add the green chili, it's up to you if you'll cut it for a spicy sinigang.
6.  If the tomatoes is not sour enough, add sinigang or tamarind mix then season with salt and pepper.
7.  Simmer again for around 3 to 5 minutes.
8.  Done, best served with rice!

Easy, right?

Remove your Face

I'm just seeing pictures wherein people seem to have a different face when they remove their makeup.  Well, it's a matter of preference and it just so happen that I do not have the skill to transform my face and opted to have a simple almost naked face make-up but everyone (who uses make-up) should remove it and let the skin breathe and currently, these are the items that I'm using.

By the way for the month of July I guess I'll be doing a group product post to eliminate my backlogs.  I will mention the essentials but with less details like packaging, where I bought it, how much etc.  etc.


It's Skin Rice Firming Cleansing Milk got my attention because it's dermatologist tested  and well it's on sale when I bought it.  I was looking for a mild cleanser that I can use in the morning and when I'm halfway through it did I know that I'm using it wrong.  It's best to massage this cleansing milk on a dry face because it will turn into something oily and almost work like cleansing oil only this one can't remove tough makeup like the ones that are waterproof.  Then dampen your hands and massage again your skin to emulsify the cleansing milk then rinse.  I like how this makes my skin soft and doesn't leave it thirsty.


Before I'm amazed with cleansing oil, I was first awed with Bifesta Cleansing Lotion that I got two variants:  the Brightup and the Moist.  Pour some on a cotton pad then swipe it all over your face to remove makeup and dirt, amazing how you don't need water to use it.  BUT it has flaws:  one swipe is not enough to remove makeup even the simple ones...at least three to make sure everything is removed which is for me a waste of cotton pads, it stings the eyes and you need to use a lot to make it work.  I also use this before as a toner but they seem (especially the moist) to be a bit sticky so I stop.  These flaws makes me appreciate cleansing oil big time!  Bifesta Cleansing Lotion is handy though when you are practicing in your makeup skill (just a cotton pad and this can erase the minor errors) and when travelling and water is not available or if you are just afraid to use water for I don't know reason :P


And lastly, this little guy who looks like a mochi or rice cake (puto).  I got this Konjac Sponge in Landmark for like a $1 to replace my Olay cleansing brush in my everyday face cleansing routine.  It's mild and it lightly scrub my face to remove the dirt off my face, lessening the appearance of whiteheads and blackheads.  And if you use foam cleanser, this helps in making more foams so no need to use extra amount of cleanser to enjoy the divine happiness of thick small bubbles/foam on your skin.  Cheap and reliable tool!

July 12, 2014

June 2014: Super Late, What is Happening?


Time have moved on, but it seems like I'm in a new world with the old confused me...so everything now is a blur especially last week.  How weird that I've been planning a month before June as to the direction of this blog (it's this blog's anniversary, 2nd to be exact) and now I don't know how to fit it in my life...hopefully I'll be regularly blogging soon though for the my sanity, it's a free space where I can express my thoughts on things that doesn't really matter but is still part of my everyday life.

So hello, treat this like an update???  Like for example the things that I've used up and thrown for a couple of months (there are still a lot more since I moved to a new place, but I didn't managed to capture our parting moment), as you can see below, it's a handful and while they are into a space in my old quarters I wonder why I collect/kept them and decided that this will be my last empties/throw post except when I used up products all at the same time.  If you follow this blog (thank you so much) then you might be familiar with most of the products so I'll just talk about the things that I haven't reviewed like the Happy Bath Facial Yogurt, Charlie White and Essence Brow something (sorry, forgot the name).

I got the Happy Bath Facial Yogurt as a freebie so I don't know much about it but it's like a very affordable drugstore basic facial wash (like ponds) that produce a decent amount of foam that luckily does remove basic makeup aside from the everyday dirt our face accumulated and the only complaint I have about it is the smell oh and the big opening of the packaging (that's two hehehe).  Next is a perfume that was given to me a decade ago (yes you read that right, 10 years ago) and it's only now that I emptied it, it's the Charlie White which is under Loreal (I hope I'm not mistaken) which was given to me when I was still in high school.  The smell is like "I just came out of the shower, I'm clean and fresh" with a hint of something flowery (I hope I nailed the smell explanation).  And the last one is the brow pallette (?) from Essence which I didn't use much because it just smudges right away and disappear or maybe I'm not just using it right and I'm just lucky to have a sister who has a slight obsession with eyebrows that she adopted it instead of me throwing it in the trash (and sing "It's not about the money, money, money").


It's also already been awhile since I shared the book/s that I'm reading...there's no other reason but me being lazy, feeling like a sloth just wanting to sleep or make friends with pillows.  But for the past months I'm just reading some classics/basic:  Sherlock Holmes and The Little Prince.  I already read the volume 1 of Sherlock Holmes last year and I'm amazed, on the second volume though I find myself being bored since some of the stories are just the same but if you like solving, crimes and the like then you should definitely read some Sherlock Holmes' stories/novels.

The Little Prince is something that I encountered when I was in grade 3 but didn't managed to finish it since I have to return the book to the school and unfortunately I do not have the means to buy myself a copy and up to now I do not have a copy of the book and just borrowed it from my sister.  Anyway, The Little Prince is something that have different meanings depending on what situation, age, scenario, feeling the reader has.  To others this might just be like a children's book, I thought it's a fascinating children story when I was still in grade school but reading it again now that I'm all grown-up gives a deeper meaning...it makes me think twice about my life...am I on the right track? or I'm just totally wasting my time on things that just burdens my life and makes me unhappy?...am I looking/searching for the right things? ---realization like that :)




"The men where you live," said the little price,"raise five thousand roses in the same garden-and they do not find in it what they are looking for."

And lastly my June 2014 playlist but aside from what is included below, I'm also loving Twilight Galaxy of Metric (I'm quoting some of the lyrics below because it hits me) and Macy Gray's rendition of Creep by Radiohead:



And that's it for June 2014!