9/1/11 - 10/1/11 - Shen's Addiction

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Did you know that I grew up with Beauty Bar near my school? Back in the day I would spend a little bit of my free time everyday browsing inside the store and listing things I would want my mom to give to me on special occassions.

It’s been a while since I last visited the Beauty Bar and I do miss the ambiance of the store. I love the white interiors, how spacious it is that you don’t bump into other shoppers while looking around in with anyone while shopping. You sort of have a personal space whenever you shop at Beauty Bar. And it’s almost impossible to walk out of Beauty Bar without a purchase. Am I right? Or am I right?

Things I love from Beauty Bar are their Model Co Designer Brow Kit, Prestige Liquid Liner in Black/Brown, Philosophy skin care and Smashbox makeup sets (you save a lot of money on this), All Natural Goat’s Milk Body Lotion and Alison Raffaele Mineral makeup.

What’s great is that they also now have Human Nature Mineral makeup that is proudly Philippine made. A brand I’ve been curious of for the longest time now. They have choices from eyeshadow, blushes, lipstick and lip balms.

It’s really a great thing that Beauty Bar decided to have an online store. shop.beautybar.com.ph, that has several of their bestselling items. I’ve been an online-shopaholic for years now especially since I’ve acquired a credit card and a Globe Gcash. It’s just so easy for me to just click and pay then wait 4 to 5 days for my orders than to drive to a mall.

Seeing Beauty Bar ads on different beauty blogs got me so curious that I finally decided to check it out. Aside from their bestselling in-store products, I was happy to know that they have The Balm’s Time Balm concealer available for purchase. I’ve heard great reviews about Time Balm on how heavy duty a concealer it is. It effectively covers dark under eyes and blemishes and how it doesn’t budge even those with oily skin.

Human Nature Boracay Bronze on stock as well. You know how crazy I am about bronzers! I always say that bronzers are the Pinay’s cosmetic BFF. Bronzers give the much needed glow and definition to our face. It also makes us sexier.

A perfect way to enhance my natural makeup look is with Smashbox’s O line, from the O-Glow, O-Gloss and O-Plump! And they have the famous Smashbox Photo Finish Primer in Travel Size for only Php850. If you haven’t tried this, then you’re missing a lot. I remember trying this and it was phenomenal. No oilies for hours!

Browsing through Beauty Bar online store is quite easy. Registration was a breeze (save for typing my super long address)! In seconds, I was clicking away stuff that I’ve been meaning to buy at the store. It was pretty easy to navigate around the site. No downtime either which is a good thing. Product descriptions were pretty much straight forward.

What’s great is that they accept credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) and Globe Gcash. Almost everyone have credit cards so no worries about that. But for others Gcash is pretty much an easy to use type of debit account that doesn’t need a lot of hassle to acquire. Everyone can have a Gcash so everyone can shop at BeautyBar.com.ph.

Beauty Bar also use a reliable courier, LBC, to deliver orders. Although the fee of Php200 maybe a bit steep, I think that security of the package is more important. I highly suggest you pool orders with your friends or sisters into one transaction to avail their Free Shipping promo. For purchases of Php2500 and above, shipping fee is waved!

Another major plus point, if your purchase reaches Php1000, you get a gift from Beauty Bar. I wonder what it is… hmmm…

If you want to know more about Beauty Bar Online Store, Beauty Bar Online Store has concise FAQ page.

Must head over to www.shop.beautybar.com.ph/ now and complete my online shopping. J

See you in a bit!

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Human Nature kindly sent me their latest Love Minerals Eyeshadow Palette in Enchanted Evening. It being a combination of purple eyeshadow shades made me very excited in trying it out. Not to mention that this will be the very first time that I will try their Love Minerals Line.

Enchanted Evening is a mix of gorgeous purples in different gradation for the crease, lid and brow bone. It is an ideal palette in creating a sexy smoky makeup look. Great for evening dates and events. You can use the eyeshadow palette wet or dry depending on the occassion or how rich you want the shade to be.

Love Minerals Mineral Eyeshadow in Enchanted Evening

The packaging is really cute, I love the box with the tree and heart leaves. It really evokes the name, Love Minerals. I'm also quite attached to the vine filigree design of the palette. It almost look whimsical. I'm glad that they came up with a purple palette as purple eye shadow compliment Filipina skin tones. As promised, it is velvet smooth and glides on the eye lid well.

Love Minerals Mineral Eyeshadow in Enchanted Evening

Look 1

I followed the instruction provided in the box of the Enchanted Evening mineral eyeshadow. I used the middle shade as base, defined my crease with the gray eyeshadow and highlighted my brow bone with lightest purple in the palette. The look was easy enough to follow and to recreate.

Look 2

The grey eye shadow makes a great base if you want to do a dark smokey look. I suggest you use this first if our eyes are in the smaller side or to a more oriental eyelids. Then apply the second shade of purple on to the crease. Finish it with highlighting, using the lightest shade. This, I think makes a better smokey eye makeup.

Love Minerals Mineral Eyeshadow in Enchanted Evening is only Php325 (approx $7.43) and is available online and at the Beauty Bar located at selected malls nationwide. Although the pigmentation is not as good as my traditional eye shadow palette, I'm quite pleased that this one is 110% No hamrful Chemicals. It has no chemical preservatives, parabens, mineral oil, artificial dyes or other toxic substances.

I hope that through the years, Love Minerals will offer more colors for the eyes and other eye makeup products. I'd love to try more from their line.

TIP:

To avoid looking like you've been punched with your purple eye makeup, define your eyes with some eyeliner and mascara. By doing doing this, your eyes appear brighter and wider. Even if it's a daytime or an evening look, never skip this part. You can opt to use just a little of the eyeliner by applying it thinly and closest to your lashline and intensify it if you're going out for the night.

visit www.humanheartnature.com to know more about Love Minerals or call (02) 931-5787.

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Gone are the days when we think that Mineral Makeup comes only in powder form. Don't you just feel lucky to be alive an era continuously provide us with a lot options in beauty and cosmetics? Now you can have your mineral makeup in the form of what we were always used, too. In pressed form and yes, you can have a mineral makeup lipstick in the convenience of bullet tube sans the parabens and other harmful ingredients. No worries, either,about those lead content that says causes cancer.

What I like about being a cosmetic addict is that I know a rip off from a really good product. You really can't fool and addict. We'd rather scour more to find a good fix than settle for something that isn't worth our hard-earned dime.

As much I like high-end makeup brands, I admit that I can only afford them when I make extra bucks from work, save up or when I need to reward myself for good behavior. Other than that, I try to look for products that performs just as great but won't bankrupt me.

As with mineral makeup in traditional packaging, you'd think you'd pay an arm and leg just to have one. I'm happy to say that you don't have to!

I recently got introduced to Colour Collection's newest line, Mineral Cosmetics. They have a complete line of mineral makeup from mineral pressed powder, dual blush palette, eyeshadow quads and of course, mineral lipsticks which is the focus of this post!

Colour Collection Mineral Cosmetics

Colour Collection's Mineral Cosmetic Lipstick is only Php350 each.

Satin Shell | Plumberry | Swooth Wine | Brick Rose | Creamy Coral

Satin Shell is a pink brown shade that is ideal for everyday use. This is definitely an MLBB (my lips but better) kind of lipstick. It's a great dupe of MAC Cosmo Amplified Lipstick.

Plumberry is a warm satin pink lipstick that will compliment your regular smokey black eye makeup. This type of shade doesn't discriminate skin tones. From the fairest of fair to the golden morensa, this pink lipstick is a sure to make you pretty in an instant. The closest shade that I have on my stash is CoverGirl's Lip Perction in Heavenly.

Smooth Wine is a warm deep red shade that is worthy of 1920's look, Flapper Era. The shade, like its name, reminds me of a rich red wine. Comparing it to my other red lipsticks, Smooth Wine seemed toned down and makes me conclude that this is a wearable wine red. The closest shade I could find in my stash is Maybelline's ColorSentational Lipstick in Sunrise Set.

Brick Red is a warm brown red shade with tinge of orange. Yes, it does remind me of red bricks but it's not that flat with its satin texture. This will definitely spice up a neutral makeup. This shade compared to my other lip colors appear to be a tamer shade of red.

Creamy Coral is an ideal peach/orange lipstick and compliments most Asian skin tone. I don't have anything like this in my collection. It's very coral to the point of orange on my pigmented lips. Use this shade when creating bronzey or peach-y eye makeup to complete your look.

Satin Shell | Plumberry | Swooth Wine | Brick Rose | Creamy Coral

What I like:

Amazingly pigment. - I was pleased to know that Colour Collection didn't minced on the quality of this collection as they really have a fabulous selection of regular/traditional lipsticks.
Scent and/or tastes is like milk chocolate - Maybe vanilla to some.
It's a mineral makeup!
Easy to apply - I didn't feel the need to use a lip brush. (although using a lip brush always assure even and precise application especially on red lipsticks)
The lipstick bullet is sturdy enough and doesn't move around the tube.
Great wearable color selection
At par with my regular high end and some affordable lipsticks.
Staying power is like any regular lipstick
Doesn't have that filmy feel when applied
It doesn't bleed on the edges of my lips (even the red shades)
No need for lip liners (although this can help lipstick stay longer)
I love the sheen that is between matte and satin-y
Affordable at only Php350 each tube.

What I don't:

Although it's not really a big factor, I'm not all too thrilled about the simplicity of the packaging. But I guess, packaging is not a huge factor in deciding what lipstick to buy.

Swatches

As per tradition, below are the swatches on my arm and lips, add to that photos of me (my face wearing each lipstick with a neutral makeup look. :)

Satin Shell | Plumberry | Swooth Wine | Brick Rose | Creamy Coral

Satin Shell | Plumberry

Swooth Wine | Brick Rose

Creamy Coral

I definitely recommend getting Satin Shell and Plumberry. These shades are my most favorite as I find them flattering on my fair-medium skin tone. Although red lipstick are gaining back it's throne for the Fall season, red isn't a color that one can maximize. Satin Shell can definitely take you from day to night by simply swipe a gloss on top of it. But if you're wearing for wearable reds, keep in mind Smooth Wine and Brick Red. You can purchase Creamy Coral for out of town trips to beach or keep one in stock for summer and spring.

Lipstick Epiphany

One thing is for sure, these shades are great in changing your look even if you barely know how to apply eye makeup as I've proven on photos above. You don't need to be a makeup artist in order to achieve a certain look. All you need are several lipstick and you'll be a whole new you.

Where to find Colour Collection Cosmetics

Colour Collection is available through direct selling. Call 02-859-3000 and they will get you in touch with a dealer near you. Better yet, become a dealer yourself and enjoy discounts and perks! Visit their facebook page at www.facebook.com/tupperwarebrandsph.

They also have a cause right now called Click for A Tree as their efforts to save the environment. Visit www.clickforatree.com and do your part for Mother Nature. It already has 4,595 clicks. Add yours!

Back to the Mineral Lipsticks

Did you like the new selection of the mineral lipsticks? What are you eyeing to purchase for yourself? Have you tried any mineral lipsticks? Share your thought with me on the comment section! :)

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Happy Humpy Day!

I celebrated my birthday last Saturday with my BFF's from college and we hit one of Cainta's popular burger joint, H.I.D. Burgers. The joint was situated beside Phoenix gas station and they serve really juicy flame-grilled chicken burgers and lots of booze! Don't worry, we didn't get drunk. It was just nice time to bond with friends again. And I'm glad that all of my main girls were able to make it.

Of course, I wouldn't leave the house without any makeup on as I see opportunities like this to dress up and do my makeup. I've been obsessing over bronzey looks lately. I think it's one of the best way to bring out the beauty of our golden skin tones. I love how browns and bronzes blends to our looks seamlessly, giving dimension and definition to our eyes and faces without you looking too made up like black smokey looks.

For the Face:

Graftobian Cool Palette #1 (Morning Glow for the face and Sunrise Flush for the Under eyes)

Shu Uemura Face Powder Sheer Colorless (for setting)

NARS Orgasm Blush (for cheeks color)

MAC Bone Beige Emphasize Sculpt and Shape Powder (LE) (for contouring)

For the eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion (to reduce eyeshadow creasing)

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette (used Deeper all over the lids, MIA for the outer V crease and Flow for highlight)

Fanny Serrano Gel Liner in Black (to define my upper lashline)

Urban Decay Glide On 24/7 Liner in Zero (to define my lower lash line and waterline)

Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume (to volumize and lengthen my lashes)

Tony Moly Love Eyebrow Pencil (to define my eyebrows)

For the Lips:

Covergirl Lip Perfection in Heavenly

It's been a while since I last used my Graftobian Palette and it really has a way of providing a flawless finish when used with the Beauty Blender sponge. As always, I gravitate to Nars Orgasm for that perfect flushed looked. I didn't realize how nice the MAC Bone Beige Emphasize Scupt and Shape Powder in contouring my jaws. I should use this more often. I've recently purchased the Tony Moly Love Eyebrow pencil due to Jheng's recommendation and it's nice. Cheap, too, at less than Php200!

And in case you're wondering, Covergirl Lip Perfection in Heavenly is a new favorite everyday pink lipstick!

with my FK's and Sophie from law school

Outfit of the Night

(sheer print top, tank top, skirt: Forever 21; wedge: So! Fab; earrings: Parfois; necklace: Forever 21; bracelet: I made it; watch: Rolex)

It was really a happy birthday whenever I'm with friends. I don't have brothers or sisters and because of that I consider my friends, family.

Thanks, FK's, for taking the time out to be with me on my birthday. :)

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VMV Hypoallergenics Cosmetics

I have recenltly reacquianted myself with the beauty brand, VMV. In three years of beauty blogging, you'd think I've had the chance to try all the cosmetic brands here in Manila. That's not the case. Like many of you, I tend to stick to the same brands that has worked for me in the past. But recent events called me to go outside my the proverbial box, try out more from VMV Hypoallergenics.

VMV Hypoallergenics pride themselves on having almost a full range of products that has zero allergens. VMV continuously keep track of new allergens and reformulate should such allergen be present in their products.

VMV takes this tedious undertaking seriously.. For over 30 years, they have had less than 0.1% reactions reported. Hats off to VMV!

But I was worried about the quality, especially on the cosmetic part. I wasn't sure that it will work the same as other cosmetic brands I've tried. Quite wary that the blush wasn't pigmented enough or the lipgloss too sheer. Although I would love a makeup without any allergen, sacrificing the pigmentation and staying power isn't my cup of tea.

Pam and Marie assured us that that isn't the case with VMV cosmetics. In VMV, they understand the needs of women for makeup that delivers especially those with a lot of skin concerns. They made sure that whatever cosmetic product you get from VMV will have no repurcussion on your skin and at the same time deliver the color and coverage you need.

I've had the pleasure to try a few products from them in the past. This time however, I tried those that adds color to our skin. Two of them are the Skin Bloom Blush in Heat and Subtle Shine Lipstick in Giddy.

VMV Hypoallergenics Skin Bloom Blush in Heat

One of the things that caught my attention as I started to open up the Skin Bloom Blush is that it comes in a small velvet zip-up box. It looked almost like a ring box. Once opened, you'll see a nice shiny acrylic palette and the brush it accompanies it.

According to the VMV website, their Skin Bloom Blush are all 100% Dye-Free, 100% Phthalate-Paraben + Preservative-Free, and 100% All-Types-Of-Fragrance-Free. It also contains green tea for its antioxidant benefits, virgin coconut oil for moisurization and monolaurin for disinfection. It also has Titanium Dioxide and iron oxide pigments for sun protection.*

The applicator brush that comes with the blush was patch-tested to ensure that is it safe to use for the skin. And soft enough that if you lack any other blush brushes, you can definitely settle for this one.

VMV Hypoallergenics Skin Bloom Blush in Heat

Skin Bloom Blush in Heat is a warm deep rose coral with mild shimmers that melds on to the skin flawlessly. Fake a tan with this blush and make your skin glow naturally. I consider this as "My-Cheeks-But-Better" Blush. So if you're within the medium-fair skin tone, you might want to check this out.

It's the perfect blush if you're aspiring for that au naturelle look. It being a coral shade makes it perfect for Asian skin, more so Filipinas and those living in a tropical country.

Heat on me

-o-

VMV Hypoallergenics Subtle Shine Lipstick in Giddy

VMV's Subtle Shine Lipsticks are rich in color, glide smoothly as silk and lends shine to the lips. It's non-drying formulation prevents chapped lips which might be because of the ingredient, virgin coconut oil, for moisturization. Being free of almost all allergens and irritating waxes, Subtle Shine Lipsticks doesn't cause darkening of the lips. It's completely non-comedogenic, and free from dye and dangerous parabens. This lipstick means serious business in protecting your lips. Like their blushes, it also has tea tree for antioxidant and of course, titanium dioxide and iron oxide for added sun protection.

VMV Hypoallergenics Subtle Shine Lipstick in Giddy

It's a good thing that there wasn't anything subtle with Subtle Shine Lipstick. It has almost that lip gloss effect sans the stickiness.

Giddy is a festive fluorescent coral hue. It is most flattering on fair to medium skin tones. With just a few swipes, this warm shade turns almost pink on my already pigmented lips. Subtle Shine is moisturizing and does not encourage chapping of the lips. Staying power is until your next drink or meal. But it gives a bit of tint to the lips that I didn't expect at all.

This shade is certainly not for everyday use. Good thing that VMV have fabulous color selection for those looking for a bit more of the everyday feel. What I notice as well with most of their collection is that it is very flattering to all skin tones.

Giddy is definitely ideal for summer along with a neutral makeup look. Similar to the makeup look I did below.

VMV Hypoallergenics Subtle Shine Lipstick in Giddy (Swatch)

Makeup Look using Giddy

VMV Hypoallergenics indeed warrants a second (and possibly a few more) looks from me. Although I am not your typical tree-hugger in love with all-natural products, I do agree that products that contain no harmful ingredients is better for the skin and could possibly deliver you from having troubled skin to begin with. I'm suffering from acne right now and I believe that sticking to products with less to no allergens is better for my skin. That and a good skin care regimen will probably reduce the chance of more acne flaring up.

If price is of no issue to you and you want a makeup that scientifically proven to be good for the skin, VMV Hypoallergenics is the right brand for you. And this high-end brand that has stores all over the globe is actually home grown. That reason alone makes me feel good in using VMV.

More VMV product posts soon!

Have you tried anything from VMV? What are your favorites? If you wish for me to do a review of VMV products, just comment below and I'll try to do them.

If you want to know more about VMV, you may visit their website at www.vmvhypoallergenics.com.

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