E.L.F. Studio Eyebrow Kit

The e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit. I got mine in the Dark shade from the Makeup Mix Shop (click logo on my sidebar to shop).

It is housed in a sleek black compact with a brow gel and powder plus a small dual-ended brush to use it with. There was a bit of condensation on the gel when I got it but it was no biggie. It was fairly easy to use even if I had very little experience with brow powders.

Swatch, no flash:

Powder on top, gel at bottom.

with flash:

I have thick and full brows that always need grooming/plucking. Most of the time I just use a brow gel in the tube or my Palladio brow wax pencil (which I can't find anywhere anymore) to tame my unruly brow hairs. I have one area at the middle of my right brow that is a bit sparse so this brow duo came in handy.

I put on the gel using the angled brush end first then the powder to fill in the color using the blending brush end. I used small strokes in the direction of hair growth and just cleaned up the upper and lower areas with a tissue. I then used my regular brow comb/brush to polish and blend evenly. I ended up with even and neater brows.

brows before:

brows after:

The shade was just right for my black brows. It just looked a bit darker coz I think I used too much powder but now I know better. It held up well for the half day I left it on my brows and I tried to rub it off but it stayed on. It doesn't say if it's waterproof so I'm assuming it isn't but at least it had good staying power. I think if I put a primer on it would last the whole day.

This is a good buy for me and one of the good products in the e.l.f Studio line. Plus it's so cheap too at only $3.

No DSL

I've had no phone line nor DSL connection since Monday and PLDT still hasn't repaired it. #@*#!!!

I am so pissed off! Sorry, I won't be able to reply to comments right away although I have scheduled posts which I did since a week ago. I am now at an internet cafe to do some important stuff online.

I am just so frustrated, Aaargh!

Haircut again

I got another haircut more than a week ago. Again from Tony & Jackey with my favorite Korean stylist Calvin (he really is so cute). My last haircut was end of June I think and it was just a bit longer than this cut but my hair grows fast so I had it cut really short. I'm sure by December my hair will be long again enough for me to put it in a small ponytail . It is just so hot that I can't stand it. However, short hair needs more styling for me because my hair is wavy. Oh well, at least I, or rather my hair, always looks different.

Photo taken Sunday when we went to Lipa, Batangas to visit my SIL and her family. We went around Fernando Airbase too since they live there. My hair is darker now than in the picture coz I colored it when we got home. I have a wedding to go to this week and my gray hairs are showing.

FOTD:

Face:

Adorned with Grace foundation in Hope 3.8 and 4.2 50/50 mix

Dreamworld Cream Toppings in Cafe Au Lait Clay/Silica

Blush:

Stila Cheek Duo in Pink Glow

Lips:

Eyeko Fat Balm in Strawberry

Celeteque Advance Update: Week 1

True Results Challenge Week 1:

I don't see that much difference yet on the lines beneath my eyes but my skin has definitely improved. It feels a bit "tighter" and my mom-in-law complimented me yesterday that my skin looked good.

Here are my before and after pictures.

Before

Week 1

On to Week 2.

Awards!

Thanks to the pretty Lelila for the award. I really appreciate it.

Please check my post here because I've done the same one previously.

DIY Project:lip balm in a tube

Isn't it frustrating and unhygeinic to use lip balms in pots? I prefer my lip balms (and glosses and other lippies for that matter) to be in tubes.

I've had the MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Petting Pink for a few years (see, it's still in it's old jar container) but I don't often use it because it's in a pot. So a few weeks ago I did this:

From here:

To here:

I used a lip balm tube I've just used up and cleaned it well. I melted the MAC in the microwave then poured it in the tube. I let it harden in the refrigerator. I still have some left over in the pot but I'll transfer it when the tube has been halfway used up.

Neat huh? Thanks to Jen for teaching me how to do this.

Celeteque Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Facial Moisturizer

A new Anti-Wrinkle moisturizer out in the market now is Celeteque's. I found out about this through blogs and their TVC. They even had a promo of getting it for 50% off by signing up in their website and downloading/printing the e-coupon with your own code and store of your choice to claim it. I claimed mine at The Podium.

**(The downloading was only up to August 31, and I found out about it and got mine Aug. 29. Those who were able to download the coupon still have until October to use the 50% off coupon).

Celeteque is known for their facial wash/moisturizer as being one of the mildest in the market. It is non-comedogenic, fragrance free and hypoallergenic. Even though, I was never a fan of this facial wash because it did nothing for me. It also didn't clean my skin well.

On the contrary, this new product seems to be promising as their website has a challenge to those who use it. They showed women from their 30's and up with before and after pictures from Week 1 to Week 6 and the improvement in the lines on their faces. I have decided to join the challenge. I stopped using all my other moistuizers for the time being.

Here is what the product says:

Ingredients:

I love the pump bottle it comes in, very hygienic. The moisturizer itself is a very light, white lotion that is fragrance free (meaning no strong or offensive scent). It is not runny nor sticky. It felt just like water going on the skin. I did have a difficult time getting the product out of the pump bottle initially but the pump dispenses just a little at a time.

Here's a photo of how much I use per area of my face - for both cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. ( I use my other creams for my neck). I also use this on the eye area since that's where my fine lines are and hope to be improved.

Comparing with my other facial moisturizers (Olay, Avon, Garnier) this one felt the lightest. My skin felt soft after application. It doesn't leave a shiny finish on the face but it's not completely matte either. More like a satin finish. Upon waking up the next day, my face isn't oily. No breakouts either. I do use my salicylic acid products before putting this on though. I use it morning and night and still put on my sunscreen in the daytime.

Anyway here's my before photo. There are fine lines and bags underneath my eyes.

Before:

I will be posting the progress of my challenge as the weeks go by with before and after pictures. I do hope it works for me.

Celeteque Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer is available at Watson's, SM Dept. Stores and Mercury Drug for Php 619 per 45ml. bottle (around $13). With the 50% coupon I got mine for only Php 309.50, oh, yeah!!!

You can check their website and the women who joined their challenge here.

Avon Magix Tinted Face Perfector SPF 15

I got this from the Makeup Mix Shop (click on logo at my sidebar to shop). I've posted here before that the Avon Magix is my HG face primer. This is the tinted version and it comes in compact form. It still comes in the all-important SPF 15 for added sun protection.

From the Avon website:

"On-the-go compact. Visibly minimizes pores witih patent-pending Optix Light-Diffusing Technology. Holds back shine for up to 10 hours. Reduces the look of fine lines...skin feels softer than ever. Shades adapt to your skin tone...like magic! Sheer Coverage. Natural matte finish. SPF 15."

The shades range from Fair to Deep and I got the Medium shade. The compact has 2 separate compartments, the top for the powder and the bottom is for the sponge applicator.

It has a gel to powder formula that is easy to blend and feels very light on the skin. It applies matte with very little color. I use this as a primer and my mineral foundation applied well. It does not cover imperfections since it is a primer but it makes the skin appear smoother with less visible pores under foundation.

Regarding the claim that it mattifies skin up to 10 hours, it doesn't for me. Like the original Magix in the tube a good half day works enough for me since my skin is really oily. Blotting papers does the trick most of the time to remove shine for the rest of the day.

This is now available locally in Light and Medium shades with regular price of Php 450 from your local Avon lady.