Weekend Haul

This was actually last week's haul but I didn't have the time to blog.

Sorry for the amateur watermark. It's the best I can do. HAHA

FOREVER 21

Finally, F21 opened in MOA! I've waited years for this. I invested on white tops so I can pair them with anything. Forgot the prices of the tops though. I think each is in the price range of PHP 700-900.

 

I also got this pair of pants for only PHP 555. What a great find! It fits my body perfectly and it's a unique color for denim, as well.The cloth isn't too thick, unlike most denim pants, so it wouldn't be too "hot" when I wear this.

Accessories!! I fell in love with the turquoise necklace (PHP 300+) upon laying my eyes on it. Look at the ombre bead pattern! Very lovely. I also got myself a spiky bracelet for PHP 250 (It was half its original price). The pink and gold set of bangles (PHP 400+), and the spiky rings (PHP 280) will be my birthday gifts for my friend. I hope she likes them!

  
SM DEPARTMENT STORE

I've been an SM girl since I was a kid. Great finds for affordable prices. I got this pair of sandals for PHP 700. The brand was Charcoal and I got a freebie (see below)

ETUDE HOUSE

My go-to brand when it comes to makeup. I purchased the Precious Mineral Bright Fit BB Cream (PHP 798). I was supposed  to buy the All-Day Strong formula, but I was informed that it was already phased out. I also got this duo fibre brush (PHP 428). *reviews to come soon* I received another freebie! Yay!

FREEBIES

Pink pencils from Etude House and a coin purse from Charcoal.
 

WATSONS

Because of my hair type, I have to invest on sulfate-free shampoos. Luckily, there is an inexpensive brand called Organix found in Watsons. I believe Organix is not available in all Watsons branches. This conditioner  bottle costs PHP 450. I also bought some plasters because my feet get blisters when my shoes are still new. lol
 

SM GTW REDHEAD
 
The money used to buy this top was originally to be used as a gift for my best friend. She wasn't able to pick out anything so she decided to choose this top (PHP 550) for me. I think it is so lovely! I love the patterns. It somehow reminds me of Picasso. I don't really know why. 

High waist green pants (PHP700)! OMG! I love the color and the fact that it's hight waist. It's going to make me look so much taller. HAHA.

Also, while strolling around the mall, salesladies gave me flyers for the Redhead Model Search 2012. The requirements for the contestants are:

• 15-25 years old, single
• At least 5'1" in height
• Must purchase at least PHP 399 worth of Redhead products to get the unique code

I met all the requirements so I joined. I feel narcissistic for doing this because I am not totally model-material, but this may be my chance to pursue my model dreams and the prizes are so awesome. A contract for Elite Management (that's the most famous modeling agency there is. Supermodels like Adriana Lima are under Elite. lol) worth PHP 60000, PHP 40000 cash, clothing allowance, and a subscription to my all-time favorite magazine, Candy. My mom and best friend also wanted me to join. HAHA wish me luck!

That's it for my weekend haul. Burned a hole in my wallet, but I guess it's all worth it. Hope you enjoyed this post. :)

Liebster Blog Award

 The Liebster award is for given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers. If you get tagged, you have to present 11 facts about yourself and answer the questions asked by the blogger who tagged you. After that, you must create your own set of 11 questions and tag 11 bloggers who you think are deserving for the Liebster award. It's a fun way to get to know more bloggers in the online community. Thank you Make-up Maite (http://makeupmaite.blogspot.com/) for tagging me!

11 Facts About Me:

1. I am a realist. I always avoid sugarcoating things. Expecting things to go my way all the time will just leave me depressed.
2. I am the most insecure person I know. I always have something negative to say about myself.
3. My dream career is to be a doctor, yet I am stuck in the business route. I want to be a doctor because I am addicted to House MD and I want to solve puzzles like Gregory House. HAHA
4. I like being creative. I love coming up with new ideas and being resourceful.
5. When I read books, I don't get to finish them most of the time. I get bored by the time I reach half of the book.
6. I work better under pressure. My mind is able to generate more ideas this way.
7. My favorite film is Romeo and Juliet - the 1968 version. I was so in love with this movie that I was able to memorize the lines for 1 act and 1 scene.
 8. My other favorite movie is Mean Girls. I quote it everyday. HAHA
9. I am a frustrated dancer. I've always wanted to be a ballerina, but I never got to learn since classes are so expensive.
10. My biggest dream in life is to walk the Victoria's Secret runway. HA! Not going to happen. LOL
11. I am obsessed with pandas! I have about 7 panda shirts, 5 stuffed toys, a pillow, 2 necklaces, and 4 pairs of earrings. <3


 Make-up Maite's questions:

1. What do you think is your most attractive feature?
I think my best features are my eyes. I know most people will answer their eyes, but I really think it's the most attractive part of my face. Naww.. That sounded narcissistic, but what the hell. People tell me I have big eyes and a small face, thus making me look so much younger than my age. During my seventeenth birthday, the organizers for my party thought I was seven when they saw my photo. HA! It's kind of irritating, but flattering as well.

2. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully, I would have graduated by that time. Currently, I am studying accountancy which is such a pain. I am hoping I won't be forced to shift to another degree because I want to finish this what I have already started. If my fate won't be as I would like to be, I'd probably be a med student five years from now.

3. What's your blogging style?
When I blog, I just type whatever comes into my head. I don't prefer highfalutin words and write as if I am just speaking. I think it makes readers more comfortable and it is gets straight to the point.

 4. How do you feel about plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is okay if you have bucketloads of money. I don't really have much control on the people who are willing to undergo such treatment. Honestly, I think it's unnecessary. Everybody has their unique beauty, they just fail to see/appreciate it. 

5. Who is the most influential person in your life?
I don't really know. Haha. The safest answer I can give is my mom. My mom is very hardworking and patient and I admire her for that. I want to be like her because these traits can help me with my career and life someday.

6. Do you have to be a size 2 to be sexy?
Lol. I think I am a size 0 and I don't really like my body. I am 99 lbs and people always tell me I am anorexic, when in fact I eat like most people do. Sexiness cannot be attributed with physical features, it is determined with your attitude.

7. What is the first thing you do when you get up in morning?
Ask my mom for another 5 minutes of sleep, then go to the bathroom and do the usual things. Haha

8. What is the last thing you do before you go to bed?
Check my Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, mail, Formspring until I get sleepy.

9. What is your personal style?
My personal style is random. There are times I dress really lazy (e.g. in school, I wear jeans and shirts only) and sometimes I dress girly (skirts, dresses, accessories). It depends on where I am going. I admire the style of Camille Co, whatever style you call that. 

10. How do you feel about calorie counting?
Never done this. I feel neutral about it. As long as people eat and get the nutrition they need, I don't have anything against calorie counting.

11. If you could send a message to your future self, what would it be and why?
Don't forget to thank the people who helped you become who you are now. Haha. It pays to appreciate those who were there with you in your ups and downs. :)

I am tagging:

http://yonderhorizons.blogspot.com/
http://buttondownboulevard.blogspot.com/
http://thegeekwearsstilettos.wordpress.com/
http://anjhelikah.blogspot.com/
http://poptartselle.blogspot.com/
http://itsmisskarlee.blogspot.com/
http://rhiandrach.blogspot.com/
http://lockslipsandlashes.blogspot.com/
http://makeupbyanna888.blogspot.com/
http://ellemariee.blogspot.com/
http://shebby-chic.blogspot.com/

My questions:

1. What rule do you live by?
2. Are you spontaneous or a planner?
3. If you would have a tattoo, what would it be?
4. What's your favorite book and movie?
5. Who/what inspires you?
6. What is your biggest fear?
7. What issue in the society are you interested in?
8. What place in the world would you like to visit?
9. How do you come up with the outfits that you wear?
10. How can you describe yourself in one word?
11. If you could have all the money in the world, what would you do?

Quick OOTD: Mateo's First Birthday

It's raining real hard here in the Philippines so I thought I'd wear something that'll keep me warm. Plus, it's a kiddie party. I was expecting that I will join games so I chose this comfortable ensemble.

My style changes depending on my mood. I rarely go for outfits like these. Also, please excuse this extremely hipster shot. It's so hard to take a whole body shot of myself and I'm too shy to use the tripod because my parents are gonna see me. lol. HAHA. I am also not that literate when it comes to camera settings, I just use point and shoot. K.

• Boyfriend polo from Marks & Spencer
• Chino pants from Penshoppe
• Bracelet from SM Accessories (found this at the men's department. Deal with it)
• Studded bracelet and necklace bought during the Super Sale Bazaar
• "Courage" ring bought during DLSU bazaar
• Mustache ring from Girl Shoppe

Didn't show my shoes since I felt they weren't too suitable for the outfit. If I had a pair, I would wear white or red Keds with this.

Trivia: I just discovered about that star charm on my bracelet. It resembles the Lasallian star so much and I'm so amazeballs about it. HAHA

Etude House Perfect Brow Kit

I've been so behind on my blog posts. I have about 5 more products to review. Tonight, I am feeling less lazy and decided to post about this brow kit from Etude House. EH has to be one of my favorite brands. Totally affordable, yet their products work.

On with the review..

BOX:

 

(instructions at the box; written in Korean)

PACKAGING:

The product comes in this black case with a mirror. The case doesn't look flimsy; however, I do have a feeling that the pink label will fade after some time. The case also comes with a mirror which I find very convenient. The colors are pressed together (nothing to separate them). I find this quite messy since the highlighter part sometimes receives brown dust. 

 

 

(highlighter, medium brown, dark brown)

I don't understand the idea of having 2 shades in one kit. It's not really everyday that people change their hair color. I wish they'd replace the other color with wax instead.

ACTUAL PRODUCT:
The brown shades do not have any red undertones in it. I am neutral with the pigmentation of this product. It appears too light when swatched. This may be good for heavy-handed girls out there, but this may also be a pain since you have to wet the powder first before you get good color payoff. Most of the time, I use Etude House's eyebrow brush. If I am in a hurry or am too lazy, I just use the tiny applicator provided.

Staying power varies. I don't really know exactly why. There are days that the product fades a little by mid-afternoon, while sometimes it can last the whole day. However, I can assure that there will still be a trace of this powder clinging into your brows. I find that using a wet brush helps the product last longer.

The powder is not chalky for me.

 

(This is the brush I always use with this kit; also available in Etude House)

APPLICATORS:
These applicators are too small, but since I have small hands I am able to use them. The spoolie is alright. Nothing special. The brush part of the other applicator is too soft to even gather product. The other side, with the angled part (made of some synthetic material), is the exact opposite. I find it too stiff. However, the stiffness sometimes helps since the product is hard to pick up with regular brow brushes. The angled brush provided picks up a lot of product, but it won't really help you apply the powder precisely given its size and shape.

 

 (barely 2 inches. lol)

Verdict: Overall, I was satisfied with the kit considering that this is my first brow product. I won't  repurchase considering that there are better products out in the market. 

Price: PHP 478
Rating: 3.5/5

Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer

This is my first eye primer so I really didn't know how this stuff works. I only use eyeshadows for experimenting so I thought I should get an inexpensive one and I decided to buy from one of my favorite brands.

BOX:

(details at the back. I don't know if you can read that so I'll just retype it.)

Proof 10 Eye Primer supplies coverage to eyelids and around the eyes to enhance eye shadow color and integrity for a longer lasting, Perfect 10 look.

Directions: Use fingers to gently apply primer to upper and lower eyelids prior to eyeshadow application. Also applicable to eye liners prior to eyeliner application.

Caution: Use only as directed. Avoid storing in high and low temperatures and areas exposed to direct sunlight. Cease use if problems arise.

(Ingredients)

Volume: 18g (0.35oz)

The formula is a viscous translucent liquid. It becomes quite sticky few seconds after application.

I am not an expert when it comes to primers but I know that they are supposed to keep eye shadow intact for longer and to make eye shadow more vibrant. Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer is much more than I what I expected. I literally swore when I applied eye shadow on top of this product. I was like "Holy ****, no way!" You can see why in the swatches I posted below.

(without flash)

(with flash)

(without flash)

(with flash)

In the last two pictures, the colors on the left are almost invisible while those at the right (with the primer) were not washed out in the photo. Amazing effect!

The only downside I can think of with this product is it will be hard to find in countries located in the West. Etude House is a Korean brand and is available in some Asian countries. For people living in the USA or UK, you may have to buy through eBay or online shops.

Price: PHP 298

Rating: 4.75/5

Verdict: I won't repurchase this because I don't really apply eye shadow, but I definitely recommend this to anyone who wears eye shadow everyday! Great product that comes with a great price tag!

NYX Round Lipstick in Paris and Orange Soda

I know I haven't been updating my blog for quite some time. I actually bought these items two months ago, but I've only had time until now. I bought these lipsticks at the Superb Sale Bazaar held last May.

I have always been interested with NYX products since a lot of people say that they have good quality despite the prices being cheap. I wanted to buy a lot from the brand but it's so hard to find locally. There is one shop that sell this at Alabang Town Center, and another one in Robinson's Manila (beware of the prices though. Their mark-up price is ridiculous!)

NYX Round Lipstick is our classic lipstick for all-year round. The mineral-based emollient formula offers a beautiful velvet texture, saturated color and it resists wear and smudging. It’s your go-to lipstick. From Pure Nude to Pink Lyric to Chic Red, Round Lipstick is available in a jaw-dropping 144 shades. (source: nyxcosmetics.com)

FORMULA:

I expected a lot from these lipsticks to be honest and they left me quite disappointed. The lipstick glides on easily, it actually goes on too smoothly that the color slides off from the lips so it is recommended to use a lip liner underneath these lipsticks. Also, I noticed that the lipstick breaks easily! I don't even know how it happened. Maybe it is because it's so hot from where I live, making the lipstick soft. But then again, this never happened to my other lipsticks.

Pigmentation is okay. Sheer at first, but buildable.

(Orange Soda and Paris)

Orange Soda is a beigey-peach color that washes me out. This shade cannot be worn alone. Unless you want to look anemic.

Paris, on the other hand, is a pretty mauvey-pink color. It has a purpley undertone to it which I find unique. However, this shade makes my teeth look more yellow.

PACKAGING:

The tubes are made out of cheap plastic. The shade name and number are written on the top and the color can be seen from the bottom. 

The cases aren't too sturdy in my opinion. I accidentally dropped the Orange Soda one from about one feet high and the glass part showing the color came off. Luckily, I was able to put it back in place)

(swatch with flash)

Price: It usually differs. Most of the time it ranges from PHP 130-150.
Rating: 2.75/5
Verdict: The lipstick is okay if you are willing to reapply every hour. If you find this a hassle, stay away from this product. The range of colors for this product is so huge that I am willing to repurchase this again.

Super Sale Bazaar

When my friend told me that there was another bazaar (see my previous post about the Superb Sale Bazaar), I felt so giddy that I knew I had to save a lot of money. I planned to buy lots of shoes during this bazaar, but I wasn't even able to buy a pair because the styles which I liked didn't have my size. It's so annoying when this happens.

I am so broke right now. I spent about 80% of all my money here. Talk about impulse buying. I feel so guilty, but at the same time happy because I was able to purchase quite a lot. The experience was tiring but I enjoyed it. My friend and I searched the racks patiently just to look for the perfect items. The shops participating here are mostly online stores. I grabbed the chance in buying lots of stuff because I wanted to avoid the hassle of online shopping.

(source: manilaonsale.com)

The bazaar ends today!

Photos of items I bought:

TOPS:

I only noticed until I got home that all the tops I have bought are floral. I didn't plan to buy them all, but I just had to. I wanted the galaxy printed shirts and the structured blazers. They were too loose on me. Ugh.

Kimono/vest. I am not sure though. 

Price: PHP 300

Mullet top. Crazy floral prints. Me likey.

Price: PHP 400

Floral top with lace details.

Price: PHP 450? (I can't remember exactly)

You can wear this top in 2 ways! Cool! 

Price: PHP 550

COSMETICS:

I just couldn't resist. They're NYX products. I don't come across this brand in malls and they're priced cheaper so I gave in.

Concealer in a Jar (beige, I purchased the medium shade before but it was too dark, PHP 300)

Rouge cream blush in Natural, PHP 350

Lipliner pencil in Natural, PHP 130

ACCESSORIES:

2-chain cross necklace. Been searching for so long. 

Price: PHP 300

Polymer clay earrings. I don't know why I am into fancy earrings nowadays. I also saw these cool pop culture earrings but I wasn't able to buy some :(

Panda - PHP 80 (I am addicted to these creatures!)

Cupcakes - PHP 50

Cookie Monster - PHP 50

Studded bracelet. Not really my style but they look cool.

PHP 250

BAG:

Satchel from Queen Street

PHP 500

No more desserts for weeks again. Boohoo. Need to save up. More bazaars to go to (hopefully!) I hope they make another shoe sale bazaar, though. :\\