Pao & Sam tie the Knot | Hello Mr. & Mrs. Valenciano ♥

Just one photo because I was too busy making memories with family and friends to tune out and take lots.  My BFF cousin Paolo Valenciano married his childhood sweetheart, Sam, and no words can define how happy I am for both of them.

We’ve known Sam since like forever.  All us cousins (don’t ask how many) from all 4 sides of both parent sets, (Valenciano, Pangilinan, Godinez, Tabuena) have “hung out” with each other for years.  Sam’s dad, Tito Jaime, being the sound and technical director for Tito (Uncle) Gary’s shows since the 80s, often had his family in tow backstage, on tour, and at family gatherings.  Two families…were undoubtedly meant to become one and believe me it was one tearjerker and fun-filled blast of a wedding.  My often shy, non-limelight cousin Paolo did not  conceal or withhold any joy he felt yesterday as a new husband.  Who ever really knows what God has planned for those who love Him and seek His approval? Oh, here’s a little secret the bride was keeping and I’m not sure everyone knew…

Instead of sky high stilettos or even other sorts of traditional bridal footwear Sam was wearing these sweetly glittery Toms underneath her bridal gown the whole time, a lovely laid back twist for a bigtime wedding.

Babyliss CompactYou Styling Iron (Mini) | With ProStyle Fuwarie Styling Mist

Ok, a round of applause for my first heat styling tool for hair ever at a time when I’ve had the… least…amount…of hair…ever, in my grownup life.  So, why now?  I’m planning to grow out my hair once the monsoon months roll in mid-year, yes a time when people don’t visit or see each other.   I saw just the exact thing I needed months back when one of my hairstylist partners, Tricia, was using what was simply a mini flat iron on a more mature client with curly cropped hair. It wasn’t this same one, but something like it.  Both she and EddieMar, my other hairstylist partner (who has only done Leighton Meester, Zac Efron, and Ian Somerhalder when they were here) highly recommended purchasing Babyliss heat styling tools from Landmark.  I was also recently sent Pro Style Fuwarie Straight styling mist, a product used on hair for heat styling.

This is such a bargain, to begin with it has the dual function of curling and straightening. The length of this mini Babyliss styling iron is about 6.5-7 inches, I don’t have huge hands. What’s great about this is apart from the size it’s voltage ready for either 110 or 220, so you needn’t worry about it short-circuiting on you. It works for both. The catch for a small tool is there’s only an on/off switch, in other words just 1 heat setting…but it heats up in 20 seconds and it’s very hot. I singed my finger when checking ‘coz i didnt believe it would be hot that quick (smart)! I needed a heat styling tool on hand but obviously not a huge one, something smaller that could style or tame hair that’s closer to the scalp, when the grown out hair begins looking horrendous with wispy flyaways etc, I wanted to be sure I was armed during that dreaded IN-BETWEEN stage of growth after summer before the holiday season. Read more to see me test this one out with Fuwarie Styling Mist.

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The Balm “Hot Mama” Blush | Almost like NARS Orgasm

I recently remembered this because “YouTuber” Emily Noel of Beauty Broadcast recently raved about all the different sorts of blush done by The Balm.  I agree with her totally about the textures of the pressed powder products by The Balm (available at Beauty Bar) even their eyeshadows totally rock, they’re velvety but not too crumbly.  I always held back on buying the world famous NARS Orgasm blush simply because of the name, call me a frumpy female if you like, it’s not that I hate it, but I’m sort of sensitive about names, even with cosmetics… because whatever you put on yourself, you irrevocably identify with whether you admit to or not, you don’t have to agree with me but that’s what I strongly believe.  I actually own a Rock &Republic blush in the shade Foreplay but I feel different now bout stuff I buy.  What made NARS Orgasm such a success what how flattering it was on different ethnicities and it wasn’t overtly pink.  I’ll probably end up buying NARS Orgasm when I get married LOL but for now I’ve got a great dupe, not spot on, less intense for about half the price, and it’s locally available   Meet Hot Mama!

What made NARS Orgasm such a sellout blush was the way it flattered so many skintones.  This Hot Mama blush isn’t an exact dead ringer for Orgasm but it has the same flattering peachy pink shade and an earthy kick with a gold sheen that isn’t annoying.  The NARS Orgasm blush is deeper and a little more pink but I don’t mind because Hot Mama flatters me pretty well.

I thought I had totally lost my love for blushes with shimmer until I met Trace Gold by MAC and now this Hot Mama blush by The Balm.  Both my parents complimented me when I first applied it and said it was sooo nice…which is probably a biased opinion full of love lol, but they’re pretty honest, my Dad doesn’t usually say anything about makeup I put on.  This costs Php776.00 from Beauty Bar, I got mine at the Rockwell boutique.

My Current Haircare Crew | Argan Haircare By Delon & Finesse Clean+Simple

So I’ve run out of whatever haircare I’ve mentioned in the past and have moved on to new stuff, and they’re all locally available and all under Php200 each.    What you’re looking at is not Moroccan Oil haircare.  To END the confusion Moroccan Oil (brand name) is the top selling A-list brand of Argan oil infused beauty products.  This Argan oil infused hair pair is by Delon, a cruelty-free Canadian brand manufactured in Canada.  You can’t go wrong with something manufactured in Canada, that was the birthplace of MAC Cosmetics and you know how high 1st world Canadian standards are.  I know the amber + aquamarine colorway of these ring a bell, yes they contain Argan oil but not by Moroccan Oil.  This rich duo of bargain haircare  impressed me for the price at S&R Pricemart grocery.  The scent of these products is great for upcoming summertime as well, it’s a bright and fresh but not annoyingly zesty Mandarin orange sort of scent with a bit of honey…I think, that’s what comes to mind, anyway.  I can’t confirm if the notes are true orange notes, but they’re certainly citrus.

Key Ingredients: SHAMPOO – Argan Oil & Shea Butter, CONDITIONER – Argan Oil & Jojoba Extract

“Salon quality intensive hair treatment for extreme conditioning requirements.  Our extra rich formula is enriched with argan oil (Argania Spinosa), which comes from the argan tree found in Morocco.  The oil derived from the nut of this tree is extremely nutritious and ideal for strengthening and enhancing dry hair.”

Both the shampoo and conditioner cost  Php129.00 each for a full 354ml each and I like that the bottle is clear enough so you can see how full it is…or eventually how much is left.  I actually think these are sale prices  because off Amazon these By Delon products cost $8 USD each which is about Php320.00, so just be aware of the full price.  The shampoo foams up nicely but not OVERLY so so you know that it’s a milder brand with less chemicals.  I checked and there are no parabens either.  The WINNER for me however is the conditioner, when you apply it you can absolutely feel that it’s a rich, nourishing conditioner that contains natural oil because of the more organic slip when you massage your hair through with fingers.  My pixie hair, short as it is, displays the effects of the conditioner which are added shine and softly hydrated locks.  If you view the ingredients list the Delon conditioner contains more Argan oil (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil) than the shampoo because Argan oil comes in 4th on the list (which means the conditioner contains a very good amount) while in the shampoo it is 9th on the list.  What’s great for the price as well is  indicated by the “from opening” symbol (beside the bunny) which indicates “36M” meaning it will be good for 36 months or 3 years from opening (and to think it’s paraben-free).  For those with color treated hair, unfortunately the shampoo isn’t SLS free.  I’m using it because I’m quite due for color retouch in a week anyway.  This next shampoo which I use to cleanse is also from the grocery (Makati Supermart Alabang) and this is what I use if I’m maintaining color (when newly retouched) giving my hair and scalp a mild reset.

“Non-irritating, free of allergens, dyes, sulfates, dermatologist tested.”

I was so glad to find this Php188.00 SLS-free shampoo by Finesse at a regular grocery (Makati Supermart), you can also try Rustan’s Fresh or Landmark which may carry this.  The Clean + Simple Hypoallergenic range also has a conditioner, I have it also but it’s not something to rave about, unlike this shampoo.  It’s lightly scented.  It smells clean, like super duper clean (with signature Finesse notes) and just refreshes hair that’s been weighed down by lots of product or other haircare items. so about once a week I use this to give my hair a reset.  I find the Neutrogena cleansing shampoo that everyone knows about quite expensive even though I like it (its great especially if you have a bad case of pool hair) and I just ran out of my color-preserving sulfate-free shampoos which were sent to me in the past by both Pureology and Kerastase.  While I loved those premium quality SLS free shampoos they’re sadly too steep in price and I don’t want to spend BIG money on SLS free shampoos to preserve color when I have pixie hair this short.  It’s just not cost efficient.  This does the job of cleansing and at the same time it’s safe for color treated hair.  So that’s my haircare crew at the moment.  I’ve stepped away from pampering hair masques and expensive OTT treatments just because I haven’t got a whole lot of hair yet.  These do the job for now.

Wowed by L’Oreal Telescopic “Shocking Extensions” (US) Mascara | aka “False Lash Telescopic” (UK)

I tweeted yesterday requesting a moment of silence because I believed in having found my “current” holy grail mascara.  Mom and I have gone through an honest handful of classic L’Oreal Telescopic (Orig) mascaras in the past because they were take home gifts by the same aunt who found this version for me.  This is a fantastic version of an old favorite which is still doing well today because the Telescopic range is a great balanced formula for length and intensity. I do remember using those up and 1 close friend at work borrowed mine because it was so good. I don’t understand why L’Oreal locally doesn’t bring in the Telescopic mascara range. They’d fly off shelves super quickly.

In the US this one is called L’Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions. I was all over it once I found out via Temptalia.com that it was what a makeup artist used on Hollywood new “IT” girl, Jessica Chastain, for her subtle but beautiful look at the Golden Globes this year. I believe she’s got probably a few added individual falsies on the outer corner but otherwise, falsies or not, it’s obvious in this photo that she’s using a fantastic mascara.

I remember first hearing Ruth Crilly, of “A Model Recommends”, rave about this on YouTube and it’s been months and she’s still standing by her claim on L’Oreal False Lash Telescopic (same thing, UK name) as her ultimate fave mascara up to now. Read more to check out how this mascara looks applied on me.

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My Valentine Makeover Giveaway! | Nationwide Until Feb.10, 2013

Hey, Beauties!  I’d preferably put up a Valentine Giveaway on the 1st of February to mark the month of love, but since there’s a major wedding the following week and I’m a bridesmaid I just really had to get this up sooner.  This, Ladies, gets the gussy going starting with skincare at least a night or two before VDay which also explains why I’m making the draw on February 10.  No sulking allowed even if you haven’t got a fella, bring on the pamper and polish because you’ve got to look your best!

The winner gets to take home ALL these prizes. It’s a fine mix of skincare, makeup, and haircare this time with brands like Laneige, Lush, Nivea, Benefit Cosmetics, K-Palette and more!  I’m so happy that I’m able to share these prizes with you just before Valentine’s Day!  In order to facilitate this giveaway I’ll be using an embedded Rafflecopter widget like the last time to make it fair for everyone.  Click read more to get to the list and close-up photos of these prizes and enter the giveaway by using the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this blog post .

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SALE! Charm Makeup Brushes 20% OFF | Via Beauty and Minerals

You can’t go wrong with a set of Charm makeup brushes. They’re the locally recognized mid-range makeup brush brand consigned in quite a few locations around the city like in Glorietta and at Pure Beauty in Serendra. The brand has also been cited several times by magazines like Cosmopolitan.  Top blogger Sophie Uy has done a superb job of championing her brand!  I use these brushes often on wedding jobs and advertising shoots and they just really deliver…without shedding. 

Use coupon code PH-Twentyoff on all transactions until February 28, and get a whopping, happy 20% off on all items from Beauty and Minerals!

They’re having a sale over at the brushes’ online home Beauty and Minerals, be sure you don’t miss out! I think the discounts are only for online purchases. If you’d like to know what I’d put my money on other than the retractable brushes, which every self-respecting girl on the go needs, it would be this.

The J&C Super Clean Solutions Brush Spray Cleanser (which I’ve reviewed here is part of the SALE as well! I plan on getting more than 1 bottle of the stuff because it works so well and smells great.

Speechless Sunday | Pinoy Artist Francisco Coching

Around the World in 80 Years | Sam’s Travel Inspired Bridal Shower

On behalf of our side of the family I thought of a somewhat unusual bridal shower concept for my cousin Paolo’s fiancee, Sam.  Together with my Tita Donna (homeschool decorating Mama), Tita Maricel, my mom and other Titas we decided to sweep Sam off her feet with uplifting decor, roadtrip music for journeys (Babalik Ka Rin, Come Fly With Me, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Love City etc.), and travel-related goodies for trips via land, sea, or air.  It just occurred to me that most couples are peppered with loads and loads of stuff they need at home which is excellent, but what about the stuff they need when on their marital adventures or great getaways?  Well, wake up to wanderlust.

L-R: Alex Godinez and Sam Godinez

Pao and Sam were cute on foot but I thought they should soar to new heights so I placed them in the balloon.

I created a rose tinted filter and added it to some of the shots using something like Photoshop (created meaning I filled a top layer with an old rose tint and ticked the Hard Light blend mode for the layer).  Seeing the shots through “virtual” rose tinted glasses adds some “heartwarmth” to them in a way that’s not so obvious.  We’d also like to say a really big thank you to Benefit Cosmetics PH, like on FB here  and Goody hair accessories PH who showed some heartwarming “kikay” support on our special day  for Sam.  Click read more to see all the photos

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The Spare Makeup Kit | Put Together in a Mad Dash

Okay, so I groaned when I realized I had scatterbrained-ly left my makeup kit in my uncle’s house.  It happens to the best of us.  My cousin, Ella, was kind enough to secure that baby the minute I texted her.  If you’re wondering, that illustrated ”Prettify” canvas pouch has most of my personal favorites. It’s a good thing I’m a makeup bug blessed with more than enough to choose from.  Without overthinking it (and in a complete hurry) I managed to put a small temporary kit together using the pretty Kate Spade polka-dot wash bag Mom got me. 

Let me significantly point out that this spare kit came together in 2 groups:

1) What I grabbed the moment I knew I left my kit the other day…

CLOCKWISE (sort of): Wet & Wild Megalast matte lipstick 902C, MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer NC30, Jordana lipstick Beige Glow, NYX Nude Beige lipliner, Korres Multivitamin Pressed Powder, Maybelline Volum Express Falsies Black Drama mascara, Okuma concealer (by k-palette), black Maybelline Eyestudio Eyeliner pencil

and 2) What I added in today with time to think.

FROM LEFT: Stila Smudgestick automatic eyeliner in “Halfmoon”, Za EverBrows pencil with brow brush, Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner black (pot) & brush, Missha perfect concealer in natural beige, Nichido mineral concealer pencil (for small spots & perfecting the lip edge after lipstick), and Elizabeth Arden 8-hr Cream Stick.

You’ll notice i haven’t added a lash curler and blush product that’s simply coz I didn’t have time and I’m being super honest. I’d probably add a lash curler and my new NARS Zen blush to make this complete but that’s in the kit I left behind. I’ll have my main makeup kit back with me soon enough but these will see me through.