Honest Scrap Award

This was given to me by Gayle of My Wonderful World of Colors and Mhean of Moiheartsmakeup  Thanks ladies!  Met Gayle and Mhean on Girltalk talking mostly about mineral makeup.  We now have our own blogs but we still "meet" each other there and help out each other with beauty related topics (and other more serious stuff about life).

As the recipient of this Honest Scrap Award it comes with some requirements before I can pass this along to another fellow blogger.  Here are the requirements:


“When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to the said person so everyone knows she/he is real. Choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have seven friends. Show the seven random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with Honest Weblog. Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten (10) honest things about yourself. Then pass it on!”



Here are the 10 honest things about me:

1. I am a shopaholic.  Be it window shopping, online shopping or actual shopping but this doesn't mean I spend money left and right.  I do my research before buying the particular product first (for skincare and cosmetics) and  I spend within my means only.  This also makes me a product junkie.  I guess that's my only vice.

2. I sleep early now that I have a family.  Before I would sleep past 12 midnight.  Now I am in bed around 10 pm or the earliest at 9 pm.  I have to bec. my DD won't sleep if we don't sleep or the lights aren't turned off.  Also, hubby wakes up very early for work so we need to turn in early.  I need my 8-9 hours of sleep nightly (or I would get sick and look and feel horrible the next few days).  Sleep makes you look younger too.

3.  I want everything to be clean and in their proper places.  I'm not OC but it just makes everything easier.  Too bad hubby is the total opposite of me!

4.  I love to read.  Loved reading since I was in grade school.  I broadend my knowledge through reading.  I can read a thick book in 1 day.  In high school, I would go around National Bookstore holding 1 Sweet Dreams book and finish reading it inside the bookstore for 1-2 hours.  Now I'm into non-fiction books.

5.  I don't like Filipino food especially those with tomato sauce.

6. I don't like kids in general except for my own.  (That's why I didn't become a pediatrician!).

7.  I'm a quiet person and I'm comfortable being alone.  I can be talkative too but I'd rather listen and observe.

8. I hate exercising and I'd rather play a sport, but then again, I hate getting all sweaty.  It's just my bad luck that I'm "pawisin".  Even standing still, I'd get sweaty because of the heat when everyone around me looks so cool and fresh.  That's why I always carry a towel with me.

9. I can't drink ice cold water.  My throat feels funny and I can't swallow it.  If it's cooler than room temp. I can drink it.  Ice cold drinks should have flavor for me to be able to drink it like iced tea or juice.

10.  I haven't drank soft drinks for more than 10 years now.  Even a sip would make my tummy ache.  

I'm passing this award to:

Aileen (Shades of U)

Soapaholic (Confessions of a Soapaholic)

Shen (Shen's Addiction)

Phoebe (Swipe Some Gloss)

Shasta (Newbie to Beauty)

Inan (Shizznizzle)

Frond (Frond's Fun With Colors)

Avon Magix (Part 2)

My first review/impressions on the Avon Magix Face Perfector can be found here.

I recently got myself a few more tubes to keep it in stock because it isn't available in our local Avon dealers.  You can get your own tubes at the Makeup Mix Shop.  They ship internationally for a very reasonable price and those who order $20 and up even get free shipping (even for international shoppers).

It still is my HG mattifier and primer.  I haven't broken out even with daily use.  Sometimes I use it alone because of the SPF 20 content.  Makeup goes on smoothly and my pores look smaller.  I've worn it for a full day and a bit of shine would still show but that would be after more than 6 hours.  It doesn't bother me though because my skin is hopelessly oily. One blotting paper is all that's needed for the day.   

Will I continue using this?  Definitely (that's why I got back-ups).  I really hope it would be available locally.

Freebie mineral pigment I got from The Makeup Mix Shop (Thanks, Toma!):

Hamesha eyeshadow - shimmering tan

Swatch (with flash): 

FOTD from last Saturday at my DD's graduation (she got First Honors!): 

*photo taken 4 hours after application 

Avon Magix as primer

EG Minerals Cover Me foundation in Helena (1st thin layer)

Lauress Minimalist foundation in Pure Yellow (2nd thin layer)

Lauress Lavender finishing powder

Aromaleigh URFP in Translucent

Blush:

Jane Be Pure blush in Rose Satin

Lumiere Silk Radiance in Winter Silk on top of blush

Eyes: 

Avon Magix as primer

Hamesha on lid

Silk Naturals Lurid on crease

Lips:

Eyeko Fat Balm in Strawberry

The Right Now Tag

*Time out muna :-)*

Tagged by Czel of Vanity's Child.

The basic premise is this – answers should all be “at the current moment.”

1. Where is your cell phone - on the bed

2. Your hair – chin-length

3. Your father – downstairs

4. Your favorite thing - shopping (actual, online and window)

5. Your dream last night – I don't remember

6. Your favorite drink – Lipton Red Tea

7. Your dream goal – our own house

8. The room you are in - bedroom

9. Your fear – sickness/death in family

10. Where do you want to be in 6 years – own home

11. Muffins – blueberry muffins are a fave

12. One of your wish list items – a big vanity table

13. Where you grew up – Quezon City

14. The last thing you did (before answering these questions) – took a bath

15. What are you wearing – old tank top and shorts

16. Your TV - 32" LCD TV

17. Your pets - more like the family's pets: 3 Labradors, 2 huge aquariums of fish

18. Your computer - desktop (I don't know brand) and an HP Mini-Note

19. Your life – stressful

20. Your mood – in pain (currently I have a bad headache)

21. Missing someone – none

22. Your car – none, but hubby has 1

23. Favorite store – online mineral makeup stores

24. Your summer – scorching!

25. Your favorite color/s - violet and blue

26. When was the last time you laughed – last night

27. When was the last time you cried – this afternoon (I was watching RENT The Movie)

28. Last person who emailed you – an online friend in the US

29. Your favorite food – pasta

30. A place you would rather be right now – mall or beach

I tag anyone who wants to be tagged.

Nail Polish Haul-edited w/ addition

My latest haul of nail poishes came the other day.  Thanks to Mhean for all the trouble of doing the spree from 8ty8beauty.  One polish is missing here and I'll edit this post with that addition once I get it.

I always have a hard time choosing shades because most of the time I end up choosing those shades that are similar to what I already have.  It takes me days to go through swatches in different blogs and researching.  

Anyway here's what I got:

OPI:

Parlez-Vous OPI (France collection) - a smokey violet, no brainer choice for me since I don't have this shade and it is unique.

with flash

no flash, artificial light

Crepes Suzi-ette (France collection)- reddish orange shade 

with flash

no flash, artificial light

China Glaze polishes:

Prize Winning Mare (Rodeo Diva collection) - golden brown shade that really isn't and changes with the light.  Very blah on the bottle but Wow on the nails.

with flash

no flash, artificial light

Wagon Trail (Rodeo Diva collection) - blackened golden green

with flash

no flash, artificial light

Emerald Sparkle (Sleigh Ride collection) - emerald green shimmer

with flash

no flash

Have you noticed how I like green polishes?

All 4 shades, with flash

I tend to avoid sheer, light shades and choose opaque, darker ones.  I use them only on my toes and never on my fingers so I like pops of color.  

Can't wait for the next spree.  

Joppa Foundation Medium 2.5

After testing the new sample I got, I decided that Medium 2.5 of Joppa's Full Coverage foundation was a better match for me.  (I ordered myself a full size refill bag right away).  Joppa's foundation has medium to heavy coverage, it doesn't break me out nor produce an oil slick on my face after a few hours.  It is on of my HG mineral foundation for more than a year now.  Their finishing powders, blushes and eye shadows are also very good.

Good thing they came up with this new shade because the Medium #3 lacked yellow but was a perfect match otherwise.  It was just a bit on the pink/beige side.

Here's an FOTD from a party I went to last weekend:

 

(no flash)

(with flash)

Face:

Avon Magix Face Perfector SPF 20

Joppa FC Medium 2.5

Dreamworld Creme Topping in Cocoa

Aromaleigh URFP in Translucent

Blush:

Adorned with Grace Shimmer blush/glow in Glamorous

Eyes:

Avon Magix as primer

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers e/s in Shell (lighter shade on lid, darker on crease)

Lips:

Silk Naturals lipgloss in Cherry Crush

 

***

Would anyone like to adopt my Joppa FC foundation in Medium #3?  I have 2 FS Refill baggies that I could give at a good, discounted price.

Eyeko Lip Gloss

New Eyeko Lip Gloss in collectible tins!  Only GBP4  per tin in 3 flavors:

Cheeky Cherry

Creamy Cupcake

Rosey Pink

Enter code "Eyeko Gloss" at check out and get a FREE gift from Eyeko.  Promo until March 8 only.

All orders ship Free anywhere in the world.

Jane Be Pure Mineral Blush

I got my Drugstore.com haul more than a week ago and included is this Jane Be Pure Mineral blush.  Been eyeing it since last year and at only $4.99 per compact, I had to have it, LOL!  

  

(with flash)

(no flash)

Ingredients are:

"Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride, Ehtylhexyl Palmitate, Zinc Stearate, Juniperus Communis Extract (Juniper), Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract (Nettle), Sambucus Nigra Flowers (Elder), Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea, Butylparaben, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850:2), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850:1), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410:2), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Carmine (CI 75470), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Manganese Violet (CI 77742)"

Not so pure in my opinion but I do use traditional blushes too.  It's only the foundation and finishing powder that has to be pure minerals for me or I'd get breakouts.  Much as I'd like my mineral blushes pure, they usually come in loose powder form.  Those in compacts or in pressed powder form are easier for me to travel with. 

Anyway, I got the shade Rose Satin which looks like the darkest shade.  The powder itself applies silky on the cheeks.  It's not chalky or powdery when you swipe the brush and is fairly pigmented.  The shade looks natural on me.  It does last a long time on my oily skin which is a major plus factor!  

(no flash, natural light)

Swatch:

(no flash)

(with flash)

The compact is cute and the bottom opens up where you'll find a mirror and a brush included.   The brush, you can discard because it is so tiny and scratchy like most drugstore blush brushes. 

 

I want to try the other shades but I have a feeling they won't show up on my medium-toned skin like Rose Satin does.  Hopefully they make darker shades of this because quality is good and price is soo right!

Photo with Jane Be Pure mineral blush in Rose Satin.  

(Sorry, no other m/u on my face, just MAC Tinted lip conditioner in Petting Pink).

Plueys and Leg Huggers

Last year I joined a local contest for Plueys, the rubber boots that are so cute.  I was one of the winners for a 10% discount coupon.  I kept putting off buying the boots for my DD because it wasn't raining and I thought they were a bit expensive for a kid who'll quickly outgrow it.

Everytime I kept putting off buying it, it would rain.  Ha!  My discount GC went unused when the end of the promo came.   Last week we were strolling around the shops at Serendra when my DD saw Plueys from a shop there and charmed her dad into buying her one.  I so wanted to kick myself because the price was a bit higher than getting it from the distributor's website.  I just made sure we got a big size (like 2-3x bigger) but not too big that she couldn't walk comfortably in it.  She got the Berry Stripey color.  Hopefully she'll get at least 2 years use from it.  And now it's almost summer!

Ever heard of BabyLegs?  They're leg warmers for babies up to bigger kids and can also be used for the arms.  I got a cheaper alternative from Tiny Tots.  The color selection is fewer but is 2-3x cheaper than the original one.  I got these a few weeks ago.

They're cute.  DD has used them in the movies to keep her warm, at the mall, to keep mosquitoes from biting her legs, etc.  They're pretty handy so I just keep a pair in my bag for her.  Adults can use them for the arms too when it gets chilly.

Good thing there are less expensive alternatives since they get the job done of keeping the legs and arms warm.