New MAC Counter at Eastwood Mall + Mini MAC Haul

So I went to Eastwood to have coffee and to hangout a while ago. And what greeted me when I entered Eastwood Mall is a MAC Counter. I always go there but it was my first time seeing it. Tweeted about this MAC Counter and a friend asked where in Eastwood it is because she was there yesterday and didn't saw one. I think its MAC's first day at Eastwood Mall. It's just a temporary counter but the SA told me that they're fixing some stuff for their permanent store there. 

MAC is at Eastwood Mall and it's there to stay. :)

I took the chance to browse and bought some stuff, a blush and two lipsticks that I'm meaning to get a for loooong time ago. I don't know why I just didn't bother checking on MAC when I go to Rustan's. I usually check other brands. And of course, the lazy me just preorder stuff online and have it delivered to my doorstep. haha

So much of the ramble, here's my mini haul...

MAC Sheertone Blush in Pinch O' Peach

I have seen this blush from beauty guru, Allison (Amarixe in Youtube). From then, I started reading reviews and the swatches I saw were really nice. This is a dark peachy pink.

MAC Lipstick in Half 'n Half

Half 'n Half has an amplified finish.

So far this is the best nude lipstick I have found that suits my skintone very well (by the way, I am an NC27-30). It's very hard to find a good nude lipstick that won't make you look like a corpse and I guess this is the one for me. 

MAC Lipstick in Chili

Chili has a matte finish.

Comparison of MAC Chili (left) and Ruby Woo (right)

This shade is very similar to MAC Ruby Woo. Only difference is that Ruby Woo has a bluish undertone and Chili has a brown undertone. If you have a cool skintone, Ruby Woo will pop on your skin and if you have a warm undertone, Chili will suit you better. For us (morena girls), I think Chili will complement our skin tone. 

That's it! I'm sorry I wasn't able to take a picture of the MAC Counter at Eastwood Mall. Anyway, its just a temporary counter. You can find it at the main entrance of the mall and it's near Beauty Bar. The temporary counter's area is decent and not too small so you will not miss it. I'll update you when the permanent store opens.

If you want me to review any of these, please reach me at the comment section below. 

At what MAC Counter do you shop (where I mean) ? ;)

Love,

Anna

Human Nature Haul

As I have told you from a previous post, I am now using an organic facial wash which is the Human Nature Balancing Facial Wash.

I have faith in the formulation. And I believe in Human Nature's Advocacy: Pro-Philippines, Pro-Poor and Pro-Environment. :)

Top three reasons why I want to try more of their products...

- They have a really good selection of skincare products for different skin types.

- They have super affordable products that won't hurt your skin and pocket.

- They help fund the development of sustainable livelihood for Filipino farming communities. 

As you enjoy your products, you help other people to have a better life. How cool can that be?

Given how I really liked that wash and how I want to support their advocacy, I went ahead and purchased some of their products online. 

Here's my haul...

Order came in two parcels

Parcel # 1

Parcel # 2

Everything that I got... :)

Now you might be wondering why my order came in two parcels when I only ordered a few items. Parcel # 1 came in two days earlier with the Purifying Scrub, Moisturizing Shampoo and Frequent Shopper Reward Card. Attached with the parcel is an invoice itemizing my delivered orders and the products that are yet to follow when its already available. 

Human Nature Balancing Face Toner (100ml), 99.75php

Got this to pair with my current Facial Wash. I wanted to see whether this is as good as the wash.  I am nearly out of my current toner, will replace it with this one. I have high hopes for this. We'll see! :)

Biodegradable, 100% Natural and Cruelty free

Opening

Human Nature Purifying Facial Scrub (50ml), 104.75php

According to their site, I can use this to alternate with my Balancing Facial Wash for a deeper clean. What's more amazing, the scrubs are made with real Strawberry seeds and Fine Bamboo Granules. I have not used any skin product with Strawberry in it and I'm eager to see what it can do to my skin. This product smells like sweet, sweet, sweet strawberries. 

Biodegradable, 100% Natural and Cruelty free

Opening

Human Nature Moisturizing Shampoo (50ml), 44.75php
& Moisturizing Conditioner (50ml), 49.75php
- Both in Lush Vanilla 

I have a really dry hair from treating it with chemicals. So any hair product that has moisturizing in its name, I am willing to try. That's how desperate I am now. haha I am also curious about the new Cream Foam Technology that this shampoo has. Will it beat my Dove experience? hmmm :)

Biodegradable, 100% Natural and Cruelty free

Opening

Frequent Shopper Reward Card

Wasn't expecting to have this card. It came with the parcel and I'm so gonna use this for my next purchases. Definitely looking forward to future purchases from this brand.

They must've gotten confused with my last name which is actually 'Cay' and not 'Sy'. :)

How it works!

Organic products are generally more expensive than the chemically processed ones but not Human Nature! Have you noticed the price point of the items in my haul? Aren't they affordable? If you are unsure whether you will like something, you can choose to buy them in smaller packs. 

Recycled but still re-usable boxes

I will be reusing these Human Nature boxes to keep various samples I get from different brands. I just love how they send the products in neat and sturdy boxes. They also fill the box with used papers so items will not shake when it is in transit. Very eco-friendly packaging!

I will be testing these products first and see if they are worth reviewing. ;)

Lovelies, have you tried organic skincare products?

Love,

Anna

Revlon Haul + 4U2 Mini Giveaway Winner

THEY'RE HERE...

The much awaited Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains came out August 1 in the Philippine Market! It was launched a few months ago in the US and now we have the chance to purchase them at our local drugstores/department stores. I bought mine at Robinsons Department Store on a whim. I passed by the front of the dept store and saw the printed advertisement for the balm stains. It caught my attention knowing we still don't have it here. Checked the Revlon counter and VOILA! All 12 shades are in front of my eyes. haha

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

(L-R: Cherish, Lovesick, Rendezvous and Romantic)

I only purchased 4 shades out of the 12 because I have already placed a preorder from the Cosmetic Alley of Facebook for 2 shades (Sweetheart & Smitten shades). Bought the Balm Stain for 400php each instead of 575php which is the local price. That's a significant price difference, right? So if you wanna save, you know what I mean. ;) They're already here too but I'm waiting for it to be shipped. I will be doing a separate review of the balm stains once I get my hands on the preordered items... :)

Got the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation too. This one is still not locally available but I preordered it with the balm stains. And yes another separate review (This is what I'm really excited about!!!)! Will this match the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation? Will let you know. Bought came for the Colorstay line of Revlon and by far, that's their frontliner. 

So many new purchases to review (Estee Lauder, Mario Badescu, Human Nature, etc...) but little time to write as I am helping in the family business. But don't you worry, I'm trying to find time to include this in my daily routine.

And the winner of the 4U2 mini giveway is... 

WINNER: Ms. Melda Mae Marcos (Number 1 for the Randomized List)

Please send me your shipping info at makeupsuite@gmail.com and I will ship the prizes to you for free. :) 

She won a 4U2 Lovelight BB Powder and a 4U2 Mirror. Giving her a week to send in her details and if she fails to, I will be drawing another one for the benefit of others.

That's it Lovelies...

Will be back for other hauls and reviews! ;)

Love,

Anna

Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream

As I have told you from previous blog posts, I am in a BB Cream phase right now. I am trying my best to stay away from foundations because I am healing my skin. And so far so good! Have not had a single breakout since I started to wear BB creams. Of course, I cannot tell that this is entirely the result of using BB's because I too have new skincare routine that I adhere to religiously (Retinol based skincare products). 

Tried various BB's and this one caught my attention. This BB Cream is from a brand that isn't as known as Etude House, The Face Shop or Skinfood in the Philippines. But its also a Korean brand, LIOELE Cosmetics which stands for LIfe Of ELegance Ease (crossed fingers, wishing the information are correct). 

Presenting my newfound BB love... hahaha

Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream (50ml); 1,150php

At the back (can't read Korean!)

Been seeing this BB from Youtube Beauty Gurus and beauty bloggers. I thought I can only purchase them abroad. But from Facebook, I learned LIOELE has a Philippine distributor already. And they have an online shop unlike Etude House or The Face Shop. They're just starting out here so they have few physical shops as of now.

Comes in a plastic tube with a pump dispenser. I like this kind of packaging! Its not as messy as not having a pump to dispense the product out. You also don't have to carefully pump as it doesn't dispense so much or so little of the product.

Pump dispenser with plastic cap

On to the cream itself... It claims to whiten the skin and take care of wrinkles. I am not sure about this. I have not used it for a longer period (this is a review from my 2 weeks of using the product). What I have notice, it makes my skin look younger than it is. May be because of its dewy finish. 

It has a high SPF index so if you know you have to take pictures of yourself that day, skip this BB. Products with high SPF can make you look like a ghost in photos (specially the ones taken at night with not enough lighting and harsh flash exposure). 

Consistency wise, this is not thick or rather too runny. It is easy to blend and doesn't settle that much on my fine lines. I have an only skin but I did not encounter any problem with regards to retouching my makeup. I do have to blot 2-3 times the whole day. That is just fair enough considering BB creams don't have the capacity to control oil.

Another thing that makes me wanna use it everyday, its makes my skin feel really soft. At night after I remove the cream off my face with a wet makeup removing tissue, I can't stop touching my face. hahaha It feels smooth. I think highly of the hyaluronic acid and yogurt in the BB cream for this after effect. haha

Smells like a light perfume to me. Not too overpowering of a smell. 

Blending Test

(1) Dispensed sample
(2) Slightly blended sample
(3) Well blended sample

Coverage Test

Will try to cover the marking  with the Lioele BB Cream (star marking created with a liquid liner)

Slightly covered marking (Sheer to Medium Coverage)

Comparison with other Korean BB Creams

BB Creams from different Korean brands

Let's compare the swatches...

1 - Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream

     SPF30 PA++

     (Universal Shade)

2 - Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream

     (Universal Shade)

3 - Lioele Water Drop BB Cream

     SPF27 PA++

     (Universal Shade)

4 - Skin79 Super+ BB Triple Functions BB Cream

     SPF50+ PA+++

     (Universal Shade)

5 - Skin79 Super+ BB Triple Functions BB Cream

     SPF25 PA++

     (Universal Shade)

6 - Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream

     SPF30 PA++

     (Shade No.2)

7 - Etude House Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream

     SPF50+ PA+++

     (Shade No.2 or W13)

8 - Tony Moly Baby Doll Foundation

     (Shade No.2)

From the swatch, you can see the Lioele Triple the Solution is in the middle rangle of shades. Its almost neutral but leans a tiny bit to the pinkier side if you'll take a closer look. I know we are all looking for something with the yellow undertone in it (speaking for Filipina girls with medium skin like mine). But don't get sucked into that notion! Sometimes, too much yellow undertone in a product can make as look gray, the opposite of being brightened (from a MAC makeup artist I have talked with). I didn't know that before!  Now, I safely pick the ones from the neutral range. haha

My least favorite from the BB creams above is the Tony Moly one. Their shading is way tooooo dark for my medium skin. Thats the middle shade they have! I mostly get the mid shade if an item has three shades. But isn't that Tony Moly one too dark for being the mid shade? Although, its the cheapest for 398php. I'll have to look further into the lightest shade and see if it fits me. 

So this wraps up my review for my BB love. haha


If you want to purchase this online: http://www.lioeleph.com/

What is your favorite BB cream?

Love,

Anna

Human Nature Balancing Facial Wash

I HAVE AN OILY/COMBINATION SKIN. 

Before, I tried using washes that can remove all the oil on my skin. Thought it was the best way to deal with all the oil welling up. But I got the wrong notion! What I did just made it even worse for my skin. Stripping my face of its natural moisture will cause it to produce even more oil. :( 

Now, I have been using this facial wash, day and night for more than a month now. And I have been loving it ever since! I use this to remove everything on my face: makeup, oil & dirt. At nights,  I add a scrub to the routine to help my night cream absorb better to the skin.

Human Nature Balancing Facial Wash, 200php at Beauty Bar

Product Description at the back of the bottle

I love how this product is 98.5% natural. And the 1.5% left are not harmful chemicals. No parabens, phthalates, SLS/SLES, formaldehyde or other toxic substances found in other beauty products that can harm your skin with continued use. How good can this get! 

Closer look at the product

The green particles are scrubs (bamboo and luffa). I don't rub this vigorously on my skin because the scrubs can kind of get too abrasive. I lather gently. haha

Manufacturing and Expiration Date at the side of the bottle

Only downside with this facial wash is that it is biodegradable as most of its ingredients are organic. Not really a problem for me because I can finish a bottle in probably 2 months time. And expiration date is not till a year from the manufacturing date.

You can use this facial wash if you have an oily or combination skin(oily in some areas and dry on other parts). From the Human Nature website, I gathered this information on how to tell if you have an oily or combination skin.

You have OILY or COMBINATION skin when you experience at least three (3) of the signs below:

• You wake up and your skin is shiny and slick around your nose

• Your pores are visible (even on entire face)

• After washing, your face looks shiny

• Your skin is usually has a slippery texture

• You find yourself using blotting papers or re-applying powder more than 2x a day

If you experience the above, you need to balance your skin to keep it clean and healthy!

Here are the significant Ingredients found in the facial wash that'll help combat your oily skin problems...

• Nature’s blend of Manila Elemi, prized ingredient revered by the world’s beauty industry

• Marine extracts for shine-free, glowing skin. 

• Infused with sugar beet and aloe vera to help replenish lost moisture  

• Bamboo scrubs and loofah gently exfoliate clogged dirt and trapped oil.

"Did you know: Top luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs all use Manila Elemi from the sap of the pili tree. This prized ingredient revered by the world’s beauty industry is found only in the Philippines!"

I am never going back to chemical soaps as long as I have this facial wash with me. I hope my skin takes a long time before getting used to it! I just love it and I already purchased a back up bottle. 

Bought my first bottle at Rustan's Supermarket and the second at Beauty Bar. You can also purchase this from the Human Nature Website: http://humanheartnature.com/buy/index.php/facial-lip-care/balancing-facial-wash.html. I also have to mention that their site is very informative. As consumers, let's do our part by being aware what goes in the products we use.

Lovelies, what's your facial wash?

Love,

Anna