Make Room Bamboo Mirror | Mother’s Day 2013

Just wanted to share with you a Mother’s Day pick and what I did with it   This was more of a side gift for Mom, my main gift was a bag.  I spotted this chic bamboo tabletop mirror in the window display of Make Room…I was walking fast and took several steps back.  It caught my eye and it just happened to be on sale at 25% off from Php595, so it ended up beig just Php446.00.  This isn’t my main gift and I decided to use it creatively to present the more expensive gift. For that purpose in itself the price was okay and I knew this was good because now I want one, too LOL. Prices on mother’s day gifts don’t matter by the way, that’s relative to where we are all at. What matters is you give straight from the heart and give her something you know will brighten her day.

The mirrror comes in a box with 3 parts that are really easy to assemble, the bamboo base, the stainless stem and the mirror with the joint behind it which you screw or twist onto the stem.  If you’re wondering about the lipsticks I used to personalize it just for today I used the Maybelline ColorSensational lipsticks I blogged about a few weeks ago…easily wiped off with tissue.

You’ll need a simple screwdriver to attach the base to the stem, I did it myself.  I personally think it would have been nicer as an oval or better yet a circle but it still looks great.  You can adjust the tilt and rotate it left or right! You may have to spritz the joint with WD40 though to make it move easier. Anyhoo enough material talk for now, it’s time to let our mom indulge in our hugs and kisses plus time, prayer, and attention. I pray God blesses each of your moms and don’t forget to make them feel special not just today but everyday. If you are a Mom, I praise you today…if you feel you aren’t a good one, recognize it but don’t dwell on it, your children don’t just need you deep inside they want you in their lives. Begin today! We’re all works in progress, just don’t wave the WIP flag. God loves you! Have a joyful day!

Zoya Pixie Dust Polish “Vespa” | Believe in Ebay PH

Close your eyes, wait (doh)…no open them, a moment of silence, a deep breath…now with me in unison say “Whoaa…”

For awhile there I thought I’d gotten over nail polish until I saw these pretty Zoya Pixie dust polishes up on Ebay.PH, yup lokal gals. Gotta gasp. You can also search the close-up feature on these in the blog All Lacquered Up I’m obviously still on a celadon /sea green kick and this just hits the spot with a satisfied sigh.

Zoya Pixie Dust Vespa is a matte, sparkly yet sandy version of YSL’s Jade Imperial. Give me a matte sparkly sand finish any day. These pixie dust polishes are like Boracay sand mixed with color and sparkle pigment once they dry over the nail. BTW these first photos are a little gray because mom’s office windows had blue tint and it was overcast earlier, here’s a better real life color shot from my cousin’s sun filled apartment earlier in the day.

They’re absolutely gorgeous and you can bet I got a nude shade (I got 3…spoiler). These were posted online for Php550 each by EbayPH seller “stuff.in.style” aka “SIS” who also have lots of other beauty things of interest for sale in addition to more shades of this.  Dare I say it…NOOO…ok fine…how about Real Techniques Brushes for only Php20 more (Php600 for single brushes + Php60 shipping) than the actual Boots pharmacy price abroad (£9.99 = Php640)? My purchase, 3 Zoya polishes and 1 Real Techniques Expert Face Brush arrived the day after I deposited my payment. I still had a Euro trip hangover as my friend called it because i was not able to relax and take my time in boutiques since we were on tour. I’m glad that online sellers like stuff.in.style aka SiS randomly fill the gap .

NARS ProPrime Eyeshadow Base | Something I Actually Use

You know how it is with primers.  Whether it be for eyes or the entire face lots of us end up with samples or actually purchase them full size but as the wind and grind of daily life progresses…many of us just skip them altogether.  I myself have a very much neglected genie tube of UD primer potion that’s just sat sulking somewhere around here.  However, since I got a mini NARS ProPrime Eyeshadow Primer with a palette I’ve been actively making it earn its place in my bag.

It’s a simple slightly creamy consistency that’s translucent white but when blended in is practically colorless. It goes on creamy and moist then slowly dries down to a matte with some stick to it. With 2 swipes across the lid and the rub of a finger you’re all set and powder eyeshadow stays on at least for over 8 hours without gathering in eyelid creases. I used this lots of times on my Europe tour in the last 2 weeks…it actually makes me want to wear eyeshadow more. Since it does that’s the whole point that makes it worth my while. Local price when converted from UK price is Php1200+.

Drugstore Delights | Boots Pharmacy, Covent Garden

Top o’ the morning to ye!  Hello from London…well just outside London somewhere in Richmond. We’d decided to spend the night with my aunt’s friend to extend our blissful London encounter by just a wee bit more.  Yesterday we were at Covent Garden…a lovely place with a collection of boutiques and things to look at. Of course no one could restrain me from a second visit to UK’s famed Boots pharmacy which is their equivalent of Watsons back home.

CLOCKWISE: Rimmel ApocaLips in “Nude Eclipse” (I already have “Celestial”, “Galaxy”, and “Stellar” & want to find “Apocaliptic”), Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (MED 3 is a good shade for you MAC NC30 girls), and Lisa Eldridge’s fave Maybelline 14hr Lipsticks in “Stay With Me Coral” and “Beige For Good”

My first rush Boots visit was in Dublin, Ireland where I picked up 3 Rimmel ApocaLips shades and the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer.  Because of the spontaneous sleepover I don’t have those first purchases with me to show but this second time around these are what I got. I’m impressed with all of them. The Maybelline 14-hr lipsticks (which were on “Get 50% off on the 2nd” offer) have that MAC lipstick texture without the dryness and extremely long wear (and that coral shade is PERFECT on me not pasty at all…review soon) and the Sugar Crush Body Scrub smells like limed Coca Cola or those sweetly tart cola bottle jellies. The Lasting Perfection concealer is the transfer resistant dream I hoped it would be and I’ll refrain from saying more for now ‘coz you bet these finds each deserve an individual post with prices included.

Just thought I’d share a few beauty related purchases before I hit London again today London is exactly what I dreamed it would be and more.

LUSH Seanik Solid Shampoo Bar

Aye!  Hello there from the land of four leaf clovers, good beer, and a hearty accent.  I’m in Dublin, Ireland and will be travelling the next couple of weeks to different parts of Europe!  So you’ll have to pardon the absence of posts in the last few days because I received my 3rd visa (the Irish one) on the day of our flight.  It was nothing short of a miracle. I didn’t want to bring along bottles of shampoo and neither did I want to pollute the earth with more sachets…so I purchased this lovely organic Seanik Solid shampoo bar from LUSH a few months back and thought this might make shampooing a lot more hassle free on trips and gosh I decided to blog about this randomly here in Ireland and who knew it had Irish moss seaweed.

“Add oceans of shine with this mineral-rich, sea salt volumizing shampoo. Like a trip to a blue lagoon, Seanik is made with the best ingredients from the sea; softening Irish moss seaweed, and Japanese nori seaweed to make your hair soft as silk from root to tips, and sea salt to give body and volume to hair that’s fallen flat. One seriously sexy shampoo, we added lemon oil for extra shine, and the exotic far eastern fragrance of sensual mimosa and jasmine oils to bathe you in the heady scent of tropical flora all day long.”

Features
• Sea salt for body: Mineral-rich sea salt boosts the volume and shine of limp, lifeless hair.
• Sea what? Softening seaweed strands infuse as you lather, and protein packed nori seaweed is particularly effective at helping care for your scalp.
• Scent and shine: Lemon adds loads of shine, and exotic florals scent your locks.

This vegan Seanik Shampoo bar smells a bit different before you use it but is pleasant enough when you lather it up well.  You use it like a soap bar but on your head. I like to rub it for about 10 seconds on top of my head with the shower running then lay it aside and continue the task with my hands.  It’s  It’s not a melty bar either and as soon as it’s away from water will dry up nicely. My head feels clean, smells nice and my hair clean without feeling stringy.  It’s actually one of those things you can give to a guy friend and he’ll probably think it’s a really good idea. It costs about Php495.00 when price is converted, shampoo bar tin sold separately.