Greetings from Singapore! I don’t plan to go on and on because I haven’t filled this baby up with new Urban Decay eyeshadows just yet, so for now it’s less about the product and more about a certain issue surrounding the brand. Being in Singapore though I’ll make sure that changes in the next few days and blog you guys some awesome stuff! I didn’t buy this here in Singapore, this arrived as part of my House of Flair order which arrived almost two weeks ago.
These Urban Decay Build Your Own palettes were/are for a limited time being sold for $18, pretty much the same price as a single newly formulated Urban Decay single eyeshadow. These customizable 6-pan palettes are lovely for traveling and give you the freedom to design your own palette and pick your own shades from the newly reformulated batch of Urban Decay single eyeshadows.
It comes with a single default nude eyeshadow shade, “Walk of Shame” (kind of like MAC Brulee) which, being so named, is somewhat of a sick coincidence considering the fact that Urban Decay as a company has recently been dealing with lots of criticism for recent reasons and a few lame, grey statements. I’ll wade just a little into the “politics” surrounding that. Before I continue please note that this is not a SMEAR campaign. I like the brand, Urban Decay, and am willing to forgive mistakes they make that I feel will eventually allow them to grow as a brand. I just don’t get overly worked up over cosmetics in that sense, I am merely stating my thoughts. Read more to get my full opinion.
Ambience is key. Everyone needs a proper place of preparation. With the pitter-patter of rain outside I couldn’t help but be drawn to imagining better spaces indoors. Of course most of us are preoccupied with a million other things that matter more and inevitably we make do with the random mish-mash of messy and/or neat spaces in our lives, but what if, just what if we took the time to make space and organize a proper area of preparation? You’ll be surprised how just by looking at these simple spaces (bereft of any electrical items or technology) you can so easily imagine a completely altered state of mind which gives you room to concern yourself with everything else other than your stuff.
IKEA Hemnes Dressing Table
This next one is a personal favorite of mine, not too feminine and the design shouts Asian even though it may not be Asian. Out of all the tables I show you here, I like this one also because it has a hefty drawer.
photo: apartmenttherapy.com
IKEA Vinstra Vanity table
Then there are the more feminine and traditional among us. Anyone for a bit of Laura Ashley? Read more to jump to the full post and more lovely spaces.
CONGRATULATIONS, Alexis Araneta! You won these “yummy” The Body Shop goodies from this Banana Split giveaway on my blog. Please email me your shipping details ASAP at probinsiyana(at)gmail(dot)com so I can have your giveaway prizes shipped out tomorrow before I leave for Singapore this Thursday (I won’t be back ’til July 8).
From Left: The Body Shop Banana Conditioner, Strawberry Body Butter, Chocomania Body Scrub, and their new Vanilla Body Mist.
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS of this giveaway were:
Giveaway open NATIONWIDE.
One (1) winner will be picked randomly from the thread of comments beneath the post.
Blessmybag.com is the sole promoter of this competition
I was sent a lovely package by Splash Corporation last week, a funky pink and zebra striped box containing the complete cuticle coat and hair polish ranges of Vitress. It was oh so very timely to have been sent this since I recently cut my hair very short. My hair isn’t by nature unruly but for the first time I found myself in need of some finishing or styling products to set it in place.
CUTICLE COAT Smoothens dry, dull and hard-to-manage hair
• Gives hair glossy shine • Enriched with moisturizers to nourish hair • Style straight or curly • Dermatologist tested Safe and Effective • Net wt. 30ml
Comes in 3 unique variants: 1. Heat Protect-with Thermo-Shield Complex that protects hair from styling stress 2. Instant Relax-with Vita-Relax Technology that helps flatten curly, wavy hair for that relaxed look 3. Hair Repair-with Hydro-Restore System that resists the ill-effects of hair coloring, perming and other hair treatments.
BEHIND THE SCENES Vitress TVC with Solenn Heussaff
HAIR POLISH Light, non-greasy hairstyling cream
• Tame frizz and smoothens down fly-away hair without the sticky feeling • Deeply penetrates each layer of hair strand for intense moisturization • Leaves a glossy, silky shine hair • Dermatologist tested Safe and Effective in 50ml and 100ml tubes
I prefer to use the Cuticle Coat “serum” for normal days, if I want to look more “slick” and don’t want as much lift from my roots I’ll probably try the Hair Polish to add a bit of weight. Usually, I pick up the Instant Relax Cuticle Coat variant, squeeze out a drop, and briskly rub it together between my palms before smoothing my hair over with my hands. Read more to get the full review on Vitress Cuticle Coat and see another special behind the scenes video with Mark Nicdao and Solenn Heussaff.
These days you never know what’s going to happen, whether it’s an earthquake, tsunami, flood, fire or the “zombie apocalypse” it’s always good to have prepared what you’re going to grab in the wake of a sudden disaster.
I’ve put together a backpack of stuff and made a video where I talk about what and why on these items.. The following video loosely follows the categories of First Aid, Beauty, Clothing, Food and Survival tools I’ve prepared for myself and for my family. Check out What’s In My Emergency Pack. The full list of items and some things I might have missed mentioning are written below this embedded video.
Emergency Pack contents (whatever I may have accidentally missed mentioning in the video I’ve listed here:
1. Lightweight but sturdy bag or backpack, comfortable for running with and appropriately contains the following categorized items.
5. CLOTHING PACK – Disposable undies, Antibacterial wipes, jogging pants, cloth undies, 3 top options, a pair of shorts. I’d also bring along my all-weather Columbia jacket.
6. FOOD/SUSTENANCE PACK – Cup noodle veggie soup, EDO Japanese Nori (seasoned), Ocean Spray Trail Mix Dried Fruit and Nuts, Century Tuna Lite easy-open can, Twinings tea sachets, starchware sporks, Light My Fire Titanium Spork (check outdoor sporting stores, got mine at Paseo Center, Sta Rosa), Payless Instant Noodles Chicken Corn Malunggay, starchware takeaway box, dried fruit and 2.5 cups of uncooked dry rice sealed in ziplock packs.
7. SURVIVAL TOOLS – metal carabiners, personal key sets, mini flashlight, Swiss Knife, waterproof flashlight (I recommend Maglites or Life Gear), MY BIBLE – in the end this is what will truly keep me going from the inside out.
THINGS I’VE NOTED THAT I STILL LACK : Lush Shampoo/Body bar, Small deodorant stick, Light My Fire firestarter thing, mini cooking pot, army Swiss knife, fishing line, insect repellent lotion.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” JOHN 16:33 NIV
I was asked by my childhood friend, Carissa, if I could do makeup for her first major video project for Weareveryday Manila. They put out an online “videozine” for the style site featuring four of the Philippines’ popular “stylista” bloggers and their style picks for the seasonal transition from Summer-Fall. It was a small but very inspiring jumpstart shoot project sponsored by Forever 21 that took place one month ago. They were just opting for a light made up look with strong brows…not really a “no make-up” look…you know, just needed to give them that PRETTY obvious blogger polish.
“WearEveryday Manila is an online fashion magazine that highlights readily available merchandise and translates runway/ celebrity fashion trends into everyday wearable ensembles. Wear everyday. Fashion everyday.“
HAIRSTYLIST – Renz Pangilinan, for bookings 09153727262
It was quite fun to do this shoot and my hairstylist for the day, Renz Pangilinan (parang pinsan lang lol…but we’re not “related”), and I got up at the crack of dawn to get these bloggers ready! Step into a stream of behind the scenes photos, a combination of some of my own pics and other shots provided by “Isa” and her super hardworking team.
I was invited to a Browhaus event earlier this year but I was unable to attend. I am certainly aware of the kinds of brow treatments and services they do. They are the experts when it comes to helping define brows that frame and suit people’s eyes properly. You can actually use this image by them as a brow guide when doing your makeup!
Whether you’ve got too much or too little brows to deal with, the Browhaus babes are the right group to entrust them to. What’s even more wonderful is they’ve got a 50% off deal coupon active online as we speak and you’ve got 12hrs left to get it via CashCash Pinoy! Just click on the image below to get the 50% off deal coupon while you can. That’s quite a price drop, from Php1295 marked down to Php648. For more information you can like Browhaus on their PH Facebook page.
I’ve ALSO embedded a video below that ISN’T by Browhaus but features Pixiwoo sister Nicola getting a similar full brow service by HD brows in the UK. Watch this video to get a proper idea of what happens when you “get your brows did” by full service brow professionals. I can imagine the services that they offer at Browhaus are similar if not entirely the same.
I often get questions about skincare, but I personally can’t credit AWESOME skincare or anything like that when it comes to my skin. I just genetically have good skin thanks to my Japanese ancestry on my mother’s side. I do know what works well for me though and what doesn’t irritate my face. Oh, if you’re missing a sunscreen product and makeup remover it’s because a few of my favorite makeup bases already contain SPF20 and above and I don’t wear makeup everyday, so my current makeup remover can have a standalone post of its own soon.
I look for products that maintain the good skin I have and that don’t have a lengthy list of unnecessary ingredients in them. They don’t have to be purely organic I just prefer the list of ingredients to be shorter rather than longer. I sometimes throw in one or two random “steps” or skin products I want to try on certain days, but these four items are the ones I really stick to. I don’t use Dickinson’s Witch Hazel toner on a daily basis since it’s not alcohol free, but I use it alternately on days where I feel more oily after using makeup, plus also to slowly kill off whiteheads that are forming. My belief is less is more so if your skin isn’t in dire need of a certain product why add it to the conga line? How many skincare products are part of your daily routine?
Now, let’s see if I can get a trend going. Quite a few have failed in the past and others are just disgustingly delayed (like the In Her Bag interviews, trying to secure another one after Donita). Weekly or perhaps monthly I shall try to post lovely photos sans the makeup of different faces in different places, young or old doesn’t matter. First for this one is a photo that’s a decade old, I was 19 and with my aunts, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, whose husbands are mom’s brothers. Here is a photo my mom pulled out of a box today unretouched and very precious.
Whenever they’re with us they don’t wear makeup, most of the time not even cologne or fragrance, at the most maybe they’ve got moisturizer, mascara (hardly ever), and lip balm on. They really only wear makeup when they’re working and up to this day, their faces are still flawless. I’m even more “vanedosa” than they are and find myself having to tone my random fussy self down around them because of their up front simplicity. These two lovelies, in spite of what people preconceive about them from time to time, are not fussy bout skincare and makeup and not even beauty obsessed. They’re more into God, the Bible, worship music, their husbands, lulling their children to sleep, books, the kitchen, and gadgets that help them through the day. Like everyone under the sun, they’re not perfect and will never admit to being so and I love and am truly inspired by both of them. May God’s love, protection, and grace shine upon them always.
After the recent Face Shop event I attended, I’ve become an instant lash curling convert. Something felt more ergonomic about these lash curlers the minute I tried a tester one over at one of the makeup counters, though the tester one wasn’t in a gold finish it had the same make.
For me personally this felt even better than the iconic Shu Uemura one I own and is therefore also better for me than the Fanny Serrano one which is like the Shu Uemura one’s twin. I like that it looks like the Shu Uemura limited edition one that was gold plated if I’m not mistaken especially since this Face Shop lash curler cost only Php205, they also carry an even more affordable one, the non-luxury one that isn’t in a gold finish and comes with rubber spares instead of extra soft spare silicon pads but they still both have the same curler body at Php105. Read more to get the full review.
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