Spend vs Save: Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Skinny Dip vs Mentholatum Lipice Color in PrettyPink

I got the mentholatum lipice color because I though it was a lipbalm, stupid me it was a lipstick instead :P
but it was a good thing, since it's a close dupe of benefit's. See how it fares below..

Benefit Skinny Dip is a popular choice and highly recommended as a MLBB (my lips but better lip color) and hubby got this for me instead of the coveted Chanel Rouge Allure in Insolente (a hot hot wearable pink that I've longed for so long). I was browsing around watson's in search of a lipbalm since I just emptied a Carmex pot.
I'm not too fond of carmex, just finished it because Im doing this finish-something-first-before-buying-a-replacement-thing. It dries the heck out of my lips.


Mentholatum is an asian brand commonly seen in drugstores, they have cosmetics and skincare which are affordable but have good quality. Only the sunscreens and lip products are available in the Philippines for now, hope they can bring all other good watson's stuff like ZA, Cezanne, and more Mentholatum soon hehe.

Lotso moisturizing ingredients

L-R: Benefit Skinny Dip, Mentholatum Pretty Pink

Mentholatum

Benefit

Mentholatum Lipice Color in Pretty Pink	Benefit Skinny Dip
A warm, my lips but better pink with sheen	A cooler my lips but better pink with sheen	Color
Silky soft, but more firm than benefit	Silky and soft and easily melts!!	Texture
A bit cheap looking for me, but it's slim and compact nonetheless	Classy slim and black	Packaging
The color stayed up to 3-4 hours with drinking, it sorta stained the lips	1 hour max, and I was oh so careful	Staying Power
Slight medicinal-floral	Fragrance-free	Fragrance
113 PHP	25 SGD	Price

Verdict: Mentholatum is a close dupe, a really close dupe, it's not even that noticeable of a difference when applied on the lips. You can just notice that benefit is just a slight cooler and paler.

Sorry for the unruly hair XD

Are You Brand Conscious?

For my dearest readers: Do brands matter to you?

Whether may it be on cosmetics, clothes, bags or shoes. Do brands matter to you? I'm really

curious on what you guys think on this issue. There are some people I know who are brand conscious.

That they depict that the pricier the brand, the better the quality and vice versa.

I have a short story to tell you, it's up to you to guess what brand this is (but I guess girltalkers know since I posted

my sentiments on this one on a forum):

Once there was a certain clothing brand, that catered to women young, and young at heart alike. They started with fresh styles

and quality clothing. As their popularity grew, so did their endorsers. It evolved from local models and celebrities and then

moved forward to foreign models and then currently, a celebrity who's married to an A-lister.

You would then think that whoah, now that CMA(celebrity who's married to an a-lister) endorses this brand, you would assume

that the quality is also for A-listers now, something that can compete with foreign brands.

but NOOOOOOO... MOST of their fabrics are flimsy and can look old with a single washing (hand washing even!), the clothes

do not justify the price. Only the brand. They can justify how ridicoulusly priced their items are considering the horrible, horrible

quality. It's just plain sad, that they can victimize a lot of women to waste their hard earned cash with their poorly-made garments.

I started to boycott this brand when I bought a top from them that got destroyed in a single gentle wash. I thought it was

just me and my bad luck, but when I browsed through most forums, lo-behold I was not the only one. Ehem!!!

Share your sentiments, I would love to hear it from you.

The Dentist and Some Teeth Care Tips

I have to be honest to you guys. Im afraid of going to the dentist, especially when I was a kid. It's probably because of watching "The Dentist" horror movies way too much with my cousins.. The movie about a dentist who's gone crazy because his wife cheated on him, and now he's out.. for revenge!

Sorry to disappoint you but this is not a movie review. I"m going to the dentist tomorrow to fix my teeth. It's better late than never. Please pray for me. Ive never been this scared, with all the tooth drilling, fixing, anesthesia injections. It's my fault. I shouldve flossed and brushed my teeth more often years ago, it's too late :(

I often get dreams of all my teeth falling off. Its a superstition that a person you know would die, and you have to bite a pillow or a piece of wood the moment you wake up to prevent this from happening.

Here are a couple of tips my dentist told me to prevent dental cavities, I know most of you know this already

1. Brush your teeth for at least 5 minutes. That's how long it takes for the fluoride to absorb and calcium to sink in your teeth

2. Brush with gentle soft or medium bristled brush with light hand. No need for intense scrubbing, it would damage your enamel more.

3. Floss your teeth every meal. No sawing motion. Just an up and down motion to remove the residue. The sawing motion will only damage your teeth and make it prone to bacteria.

Tutorial: Ulzaang Pony #28 Sweet Pea

Credits to Soompi forums for the images, Ulzzang Pony was a makeup tutorial site by a lovely korean girl, whose site has been closed down and thanks to soompiers, took screenshots of her makeup. I am not taking credit for these images, rather sharing it to more people as possible

UGGs in the Philippines (Laughing out Loud)

These boots became a craze around 2004-2005. This is nice. If you live in a country where the weather chills. But we all know that I live, in a humid and tropical country where flipflops are more convenient and comfy.
My grandpa, however, gave me a pair of uggs

A pair of sheepskin goodness

Tried it on for fun

It looks very good in skinnies and skirts. I'm grateful to have this as a gift! However, I could probably wear this when I go to a place where there's a winter season (hopefully, I can travel to europe someday!) But it will take a while.

So what do you think? Summer's comin.. summer's comin.. looks like these babies will be hanging out in my shoe closet instead :(

Fragrance Review: HermesKelly Caleche + a shocker :p

From fragantica.com:.Kelly Caleche, luxurious fragrance by the house of Hermes dedicated to famous Grace Kelly and leather purse Kelly Hermes, as well as to the legendary evening perfume Caleche, was introduced last year.

Kelly Caleche was developed by Jean-Claude Ellena from charming and gentle, bitterish rhapsodies of citruses and grapefruit which blend with floral notes full of nuances, with a characteristic powdery face of iris, with gourmand, yellow mimosa and rose. The perfect signature is added by a fine leather note. The last year's edition was dedicated to young women, ladies and the bottle was signed by designer Philippe Mouquet.

After great success with the last year's edition, a luxurious and very interesting edition for your purse was presented. It is shaped like a silver lock, available in limited number as 7,5 ml pure perfume extract, created of reconstructed aromas of the first perfume including jasmine, mimosa, tuberose and iris with benzoin and discrete accords of leather.

The new edition Hermes Kelly Caleche L`Eau de Parfum arrives as eau de parfum. Its flacon is shaped just like the EDT version, with a small, charming lock around the neck of the bottle, which symbolically connects all three editions.

The new variant was developed by renowned perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena, who retained a floral-leather composition.

Kelly Caleche L`Eau de Parfum includes accords of Barenia calf leather, sheep leather, rose and violet, which are wrapped in an attractive vanilla veil. The new, luxurious edition is available from February 2009, in amount of 50 and100ml EDP.

My Review? As usual, I love using images rather than words, describing the feel rather than the notes itself.

Good thing I tried it on first before purchasing. It made me transform to a leather-clad grandma.

Review: Guerlain Pressed Meteorites in Mythic Parfait 01

A real beauty

Got this as a gift from hubs because I was after that "glowy and ethereal" finish that I could never get with foundations or powder alone. I find that Meteorites Balls was more effective in doing that instead of this product, this has a matte finish but works as a good setting powder. For my highlighting needs, I rely on my TheBalm Mary-Loumanizer.

Happy Heart's Day Everyone.. and a Short Letter..

A note to my loving husband.. there are a lot of memorable things you did, that makes me really happy and makes me feel blessed to have a husband like you.I would never forget the time when I recently gave birth to Geof, and was not allowed to take a bath for a while (gross I know) because of old-wives tale, and

Being an obedient daughter-in-law, haha I didn’t. I just wiped myself clean. Although my hair, was never shampooed. Because it was told that one will go crazy when a woman takes a bath within the month after she gives birth (crazyyy customs I know!).

I was feeling depressed ,with the post-partum blues, feeling like trash and all icky. My hair was so itchy, it felt so sticky and dirty. I just ached and longed to be clean.

It was a Saturday, he bought me a DVD of “God’s Must Be Crazy” and we watched It together, indeed it was one of the funniest movies I saw. He told me he bought that to

Cheer me up. I looked so “down” daw. Well who wouldn’t?! Haha.. J Then, right after watching, I was surprised when he started pouring the water he heated to a basin and mixed it in, got shampoo, and led me to the sink. He shampooed my hair. I saw all the dirt and grime on the sink it was disgusting! Haha..

To one person, a shampoo may not be a big deal. But to me, at that moment of time. It was one of the best shampoo I had. I felt so loved. Special.

Writing this made me teary-eyed and very emotional. I miss him so much. If you have been a frequent visitor of my blog, you would know where he is right now.Papa, I hope you are reading this. I know you visit my blog when I post something you call “non-makeup blog days”. Well, this is sorta one of those days. To be honest,

It’s nearing valentine’s and I don’t have a gift for you yet. And even if I did, I don’t know how to send it to you. We may be far apart right now, but I want you to know

You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Ever since the day we met, I felt happy and finally content. I love you. Happy Valentine’s Day…

Cambridge Satchels, Yay or Nay?

I became soooo depressed when I saw fake Cath Kidstons in Divisoria today, news spreads so fast that it's quickly becoming a "fad" in the Philippines and when something becomes popular.. here comes the fake goods from you know where.

I'm looking for a new bag that I can use everyday at work. Longchamps are nice but I hate how every item I have (even when inside the pouch) goes shaking inside haha.. It feels like it doesnt offer enough protection to my stuff. Hehe..

I saw this while googling-oogling...

Image from cambridgesatchel.co.uk

A 14 inch red cambridge satchel... *sighs*

It looks so unique, I havent come across with a lady with a bag like this one (as of today) and I want one for myself maybe as a birthday present (oh-oh haha clue that my birthday is near?). 

My only issue is that the leather looks to hard and harsh, need to see one in person. Ack, does anyone of you own one?

What do you think guys and gals and pals? Is this bag a yay or a nay?

Review: Maybelline Clear Smooth Aqua Gel Foundation (or the discontinued Maybelline Pure Makeup)

I was on a marathon of super duper incredibly bad skin days, and on a lookout for a simple foundation that would not clog my pores. I cannot not use foundation because my skin is currently red and uneven with a lot of icky acne. :( Prolly because of too much makeup experimenting. (Blaming myself for trying stuff wayy too much)

So if you read this entry about the truth about foundations. It mentioned that Almay and Maybelline have foundations that are formulated similar to skincare, and Pure Makeup was one of them (discontinued in US, still available in Asia as Aqua Gel Foundation).

It's so affordable for 349php, and it's easy to find, so I grabbed a tube to try. Yes, I never learn not to stop trying out new stuff.

Let's go on with the review shall we?

Daily Devotion: Psalm 131

Psalm 131

A Prayer of Humble Trust
Lord, I have given up my pride
And turned away from my arrogance
I am not concerned with great matters
Or with subjects too difficult for me.
Instead, I am content and at peace.
As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms,
So my heart is quiet within me.
Israel, trust in the Lord
Now and forever

NARS Schiap Lip Swatch and a Surprise Guest

I've been lemming for this for almost a year now, and it's just this recently that I got a hold of this popular shade of lipstick. It's a shockingly bright pink bordering to neon. Expecting it to be "unflattering and unwearable" It seems to be the perfect pink to get noticed ;) (in a good way of course)

Villa Marie Resort

Clean. Complete. Comfortable. 

Compared to other private resorts in Los Banos, Villa Marie is a perfect haven for those who want to dip in natural hot springs of laguna without the high price or the "used & old feel". It has a great view to boot! 

Rates:

Peak Season - April to May

• 24 hours -  12,000Php
•   CheckIn - 6pm or 6am
• 12 hours overnight - 6,000Php
•     CheckIn - 6pm
•     CheckOut - 6am
• 8:00am 5:00pm - 5,000Php

Off-Peak

• 24 hours -  8,000Php
•   CheckIn - 6pm or 6am
• 12 hours overnight -5,000Php
•     CheckIn - 6pm
•     CheckOut - 6am
• 8:00am 5:00pm - 4,000Php

09158940934

For Reservations:

Reservation/Deposit fee for 24 hours (non refundable) - 3,000

Reservation/Deposit fee for 12 hours 

(non refundable)

- 2,000

Please leave a message here or contact Katrina Enerva at  villamarieresort@gmail.com 

Park Marced Subdivision, Barangay Lalakay, Los Banos, Laguna (In front of Hillspa)

Amenities: - Good for 30 people max.

3 Bedrooms (all airconditioned)

1 Large Pool

1 Kiddie Pool

Videoke Machine

Dining Area

Kitchen

- Refrigirator

- Stove

- Water Dispenser

Living Room

Parking

Actual Pictures:

Rates:

Peak Season - April to May

• 24 hours -  12,000Php
•   CheckIn - 6pm or 6am
• 12 hours overnight - 6,000Php
•     CheckIn - 6pm
•     CheckOut - 6am
• 8:00am 5:00pm - 5,000Php

Off-Peak

• 24 hours -  8,000Php
•   CheckIn - 6pm or 6am
• 12 hours overnight -5,000Php
•     CheckIn - 6pm
•     CheckOut - 6am
• 8:00am 5:00pm - 4,000Php

For Reservations:

Reservation/Deposit fee for 24 hours 

(non refundable)

- 3,000

Reservation/Deposit fee for 12 hours 

(non refundable)

- 2,000

Please leave a message here or contact Katrina Enerva at  villamarieresort@gmail.com 

Park Marced Subdivision, Barangay Lalakay, Los Banos, Laguna (In front of Hillspa)

Food: Photo Overload? Singapore Food Tripping

Photo overload ahead. It was my fault I didnt get to take pictures of the other food like the 1$ mint ice cream sandwich and other good food. :9 Over-all, it was a satisfying gastronomic experience. I was not expecting much since I lurvee Filipino food, but Singapore food is a melting pot of all sorts of culture and races that you can eat different types of mixed cuisine :)

Haha.. yes, I ate all of it. (The food in the picture) Waaaa...

The Truth About Foundations

image taken from Ihascheezburger

Haha.. LOLCatz are so cute. Most of us "kikay" women use foundations. Mostly to cover up acne, scars, or just to make our face look flawless. But do you know most cosmetic companies just give false truths about special properties in their foundation or anti-oxidant blah blahs when they really appear in the last part of the ingredients list. (Meaning the antioxidants are insignificant to work)

I found an article from acne.org by a person who works in the cosmetics industry for a really long time. It enlightened me in so many ways making me more picky in choosing what foundation to use.

HBC San San Mousse Collection Review and Swatches and a Makeover

I'm so excited to give you a review on HBC San san's Mousse Collection. As you all know, HBC or Home of Beauty Exclusives is well known for great inexpensive bath and beauty products that caters to everyone from babies, tweens, teens, women like us, and even men :p

Review and a whole lot more after the jump!

Trend 2011 : Wide Leg Trousers

Click to enlarge

One of the trends that I'm very happy about and looking forward to is wide leg pants. It's not a trend before but I prefer wearing soft wide leg pants over skimppy skinnies since FOREVER, since it's so feminine and can be mixed and matched from looking casual to formal. More pictures from different designers after the jump.

Chanel Teint Innocence Compact Review

This review is long overdue, I don't even own this now (sold it off hehe)

It's a nice foundation, but not for me, still on the search for my holy grail..According to Chanel's description:

Innovative oil-free compact foundation offers luxurious glide-on application. Provides ideal medium coverage, while still revealing skin's natural beauty. Delivers greater colour purity for an even, luminous complexion.

Singapore and other updates

Where have you been K?! Haha, I'm not even sure if my readers noticed that I'm gone :p If you've been following this blog, it's been almost a week since I last posted. Took a quick vacation and visited my hubby in Singapore, had loads of fun and lots of yummy food!
It's a lovely place.
More pictures after the jump!