My weekend wrapped up: Phantom of the Opera yet again

Hello dear followers! Tonight I just want to share to you what I've been up to over the weekend. Well, guess what. I got to watch the Phantom of the Opera again last night with my mommy dearest! Too bad I wasn't able to take a picture at the CCP though but so far, here's what I have.

We stayed at the Diamond Hotel overnight. Its like a 15 minute drive to CCP, excluding traffic. So if you were wondering why in the world we're there, a drug company recently launched a new product, and my mother, who is a Psychiatrist, was invited to witness the whole thing. As if that isn't enough, they also gave two Orchestra tickets to the Phantom of the Opera which would then explain why I got to watch it again last night with mommy dearest! She failed to snag two more tickets so it was just the two of us. Oh well papel.

My mom & dad. They sure make a lovely couple! :)

Again, I'm sorry for the blurry photos. With my brother right here.

Haha! Don't mind my starstruck face here. I still couldn't quite get over what happened after the show. My mom and I ended up in the same elevator as Jonathan Roxmouth (yes, the one who plays Erik in the Phantom of the Opera!), and he was wearing shorts and a cup of coffee in hand, seemingly normal without his Phantom mask on. I knew that they were staying at the DH, but I only saw a 20 % chance of that happening since we were only there for the night. But it happened! And I'm one happy girl! And to top that all off, he replied to me on Twitter! GRAAAAAND! 

So yes, that's my weekend wrapped up. Happy that I got to spend it with my family, and a few surprising moments here and there!

See you on my next blog! 

As always...

JEM

Review: Skinfood's Peach Sake Pore BB cream in #2

Hello my lovely readers! Today would be a review about this BB cream I'm currently using, which is Skinfood's Peach Sake Pore BB cream in #2. You may or may not yet already know this, but I am head over heels in love with BB creams! So much that I would put them next to lipstick, which is my number one favorite cosmetic. Isn't it such a delight whenever you come across a product that works for you? Oh I just want to give whoever invented this a BIIIG KISS! The whole concept of it is pure genius! Imagine the number of benefits it has to offer and all the while giving you your desired coverage (light-heavy) and letting your skin breathe! Definitely not what you'd get from your average foundation, that's for sure! Because as much as I love make up, heavy feel foundations are my number one pet peeve. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one on this. :)

So I was in the look-out for a BB cream that has a light-weight feel to it, but still, is able to conceal minor blemishes and even out skin discoloration. I say "minor blemishes" because I have long accepted the fact that I'm always going to need a concealer. Whatever it is that I choose to slap on my face, I will always need a concealer. Its currently my best friend! Haha!

So anyway, I was really confused whether to get the #1 or #2, because they only have two shades to choose from, but I'm glad I opted for this one instead. This shade looks more right on my skin, and the good thing about it is that it does not oxidize. It did not turn gray on me after a few hours, unlike others I have tried. Among all my other BB creams, this one right here is closest to my skin tone, so yes, its more on the yellow side. I honestly thought this would be a tad bit dark on me as I usually go for the lightest shade whenever I buy foundations, but this adjusted quite well on my skin. I think that's how most BB creams work. They just adjust to your skin tone.

As for the coverage. Well, why don't you just see for yourself?

Its good that it evened out my skin tone, and concealed some of my minor blemishes. But this isn't a full coverage BB cream to begin with, so a flawless finish is just impossible.

And after putting on concealer, and some powder as my finishing veil. 

And some more pictures.

Overall, I love this BB cream. Despite having read mixed reviews about this product, I'm glad I still went on with buying this thing because its become one of my favorite BB creams! Its a light-weight cream, but still does a wonderful job in concealing and evening out your skin tone. The only two cons I see as of now is that 1,  its SPF is lower compared to other BB creams out there. This one contains an SPF of 20 so you might want to wear a separate sunblock underneath and 2, its smell is something I find too much, it has a peach-y scent that can be a little to overpowering if you ask me. But other than those I have mentioned, this one is puuurfect! 

And just another picture after a looong day at school. 

What I love about this product: 

Doesn't feel heavy on the skin 

Has an spf

Covers minor blemishes

Evens out skin-tone

Small packaging therefore ideal for toting around 

Doesn't oxidize (no gray casts whatsoever)

This stays put for a good of 6-8 hours (with touch-ups)

I don't blot as much with this on 

What I hate about this product: 

It dries fast so you have to be pretty quick in applying

Only has an spf of 20

Scent is overpowering 

Will you buy this again? 

Not really.  But I might try other BB creams from Skin food as I've had a really nice time with this one. 

Who would you recommend this to? 

Those who have oily/combination skin. Like I've mentioned before, I have a combination skin but I don't blot as much whenever I have this on. 

Where can I buy this? 

I bought this online from a trusted seller for 500php, including shipping fee. Just a word of advice, don't ever ever buy Korean products in the mall as they are ridiculously overpriced there! When you do buy over the net though,  just make sure you know who you're buying from because they could be fake for all you know. If I remember correctly this is around 950php in the mall. See the difference? 

So there. Thank you for reading my blog. See you on the next one! 

As always...

JEM

Quick Swatch: ELF Lipstick in Flirtatious

Hello! Good morning dear followers! Today's just a quick swatch from this lippie I'm currently using. Remember when I reviewed ELF's Gypsy and said I can't wait to try out their other shades? Well, I just bought another one and that's what I'll be showing you today! :) 

Le bare lips:

TA-DAA! 

I'm sorry I wasn't able to fill it properly... I was having a "bad lips day" myself and apparently it showed on ze pictures. 

And another one! :)

Here's how it looks like with flash.

Overall, I love this lippie. I love what it does to my face! I look more brightened up, more awakened every time I wear this, even my mom was intrigued and asked me what lipstick I was wearing! I was about to buy a shade similar to this from Etude House, the price was around 428php if I'm not mistaken, so imagine my happiness when I found this one instead! This one goes straight to my make up must-haves! :) 

That's it for today's blog. See you on the next one! 

As always...

JEM

Rave: Orsypa Champorado Scrub

Hello lovely followers! Today I just want to share to you my new found love on this scrub which I bought just because I feel like my current scrub, which is St. Ives, isn't doing much in terms of exfoliating and getting rid of my blemishes. Well, that's just me though because I know this has worked for so many people. So anyway. This product I'm talking about is from Oryspa and its called Champorado Scrub.

It was only quite recently that I squeezed in scrubs in my skin care regimen, because I honestly thought that scrubs are to be ignored if you have an acne prone skin. I guess its cause my dad always advised me to stay away from them because it has beads than can be a bit too harsh on the skin. So I googled ways on how to have a clearer skin and almost every article that I've read mentioned  a thing or two about exfoliation. So being the curious person that I am, plus an overwhelming determination to get rid of my blemishes, I headed to the nearest drugstore and got myself my first ever scrub, which is St Ives as I have mentioned earlier.
I know that in some way or another, it made my skin better, but I guess I was looking for more so for me it was just an okay scrub. Nothing worth raving about.

So one day I was in the mall because I ran out of music sheets and I urgently need them for an exam tomorrow. After getting them from National Bookstore, I told myself I'm not going to Watson's because for sure, I will go out with a product or two in hand. So I passed by Oryspa's counter instead because I love organic products so much, and the SA started going off about this Champorado scrub and how much good it is as a body exfoliant. She said that their customers have had good results with this and always come back for more of their products. So, who am I to resist? Obviously, I took it home with me!

So upon opening the jar, the first thing that got me was its smell! My gosh, I can just sniff this thing all day long! I let my brother smell it and he actually thought that it was something you mix with food. Funny! So anyhoo, I have been using this for about a week now, every other day without fail, and I can say that my face  has improved. It looks less dull and more brightened up, and that's already saying a lot considering its only been a week!  My face feels softer now and my blemishes definitely lightened to a certain degree. I wasn't expecting much from this product but boy, I just got served! This is a definite must-try for people with oily, and acne prone skin. Even for those with normal skin will find this such a wonderful treat!

A definite steal for only 195php!

And finally. I'm not sure where else you can get a hold of their products but you can always check out their facebook fanpage right here. I buy mine in Megamall, and I think this one's also available in SM North Edsa.

That's it for today! Thanks for reading my blog and I hope to see you in the next one!

As always...
JEM

Review/Swatch: Elf Lipstick in Gypsy

Hello lovely followers! Remember in my previous mini-haul post, I bought an ELF lipstick and said I would do a review on it soon? Well, I gave it a week and now here's what I think about it.

Here's how it looks like.

So this lippie is housed in a silver plastic tube, which I'm not a big fan of. I find myself going easy with this thing every time I use it because I feel like if I don't, its going to break or something. This isn't a biggie for me though since I have my make up bag to take care of that. 

So here's another picture: 

What a unique and fancy name for a lipstick, don't you think?! This is my first encounter with a lippie whose name has got nothing to do with the color! Cos I've had ones like Pink About It, Mauve it Over, Papaya Punch, and other names where you get an idea what color it is because of the given hints but not with this one. NUH-UH! Tell me, what color, if any, comes in your mind when you hear the word Gypsy? Thought so too! Haha! :)

So anyway. Here's a swatch taken with natural lighting: 

Le naked lips: 

And TA-DA! 

And last picture is taken with flash:

Overall, I love this lipstick. Its creamy that it doesn't leave my lips looking dry. In fact I don't have any lipbalm underneath this thing! As for the color, for me its a deep pink, more like fuschia pink actually, but for some unknown reason it appears like a lighter pink basing from the photos above, not so sure why but I swear its a few tones darker when worn. Its very pigmented so one layer of this thing is enough for a simple, everyday wear. But if you're going for a more dramatic look, then by all means, layer on some more. 

So the finish has a little bit of moist to it but don't worry, it is barely noticeable on broad daylight so its no biggie. Staying power is pretty good too, although for it to really last longer, I apply lip liner first although I tend to skip this when I'm in a hurry. 

I'm not sure if I should even mention this as its not that important but for some reason, this lippie tends to look a little "red" on me after a few hours. My classmate even commented on it and told me, "Ikaw na naka red lipstick", which took me by surprise because this isn't even red to begin with. And then I checked the mirror and indeed, it turned a little red on me. I'm guessing the lipliner is the culprit here because from the pictures above, I did not use lipliner at all and it looked okay on me. It did not even turn red after a few hours. Oh welll! 

THAT'S THAT! 

.I love this product nonetheless and I can't wait to try out their other shades! 

This is available at all ELF counters at all Watson's and SM Department stores. Got if for 129php. 

Let me know if you have tried anything from this line! Would love to hear about it!

As always...

JEM 

Everyone's Favorite: Human Nature's Sunflower Beauty Oil

Hello ladies! So for today's blog I just want to share to you my favorite all-around oil as of the moment. This is the first one I have used, EVER, so there's nothing else I can compare it with. But I just want to share to you the wonders it has done to my skin, although you have to be really patient to see results.

So about a month ago, I got curious about this Sunflower Oil from Human Nature because a lot of beauty bloggers are raving about this so called "miracle worker". I wondered as to why, because I honestly thought that if you use an oil against an oily face, it can only make things worse. So I decided to google some of its benefits and was truly amazed by the number of wonderful things it can do to our skin! It can lighten pimple marks, minimize stretch marks, add shine to the hair, and can even be used as a moisturizer for the face & body! The pessimistic person inside me is shouting, "COME ON! IT CAN'T BE THAT GOOD!"

But I gave it a chance anyway since I was suffering from pimple marks at the time and my main concern was to get rid of them, FAST! But I didn't know where to buy this product and the only place it was available in was in online stores, and honestly, I hate buying everything online unless its cheaper compared to mall prices, which is just about the good thing with online shopping. But anyway, as my mother and I were doing groceries at Rustan's Supermarket, I couldn't believe my eyes because, guess what, Human Nature products are available there! So of course I got myself this one.

So you might be wondering how I use this Sunflower Oil. Alright, so for the first few days, I tried using it as a moisturizer for my face and found that it was too much. I woke up with a greasy face that I couldn't take much of, so I decided to use it differently. I started using it as a make-up remover and I let the oil sit for about 10-15 minutes before I take a bath. I also use this on my elbows and knees, and sometimes on my hair when I feel like it looks dull and needs a little bit of life.  I've been doing this for more than a month now and I can tell how much my skin has improved. My face feels softer now and less prone to breakouts, and my pimple marks definitely lightened, they are less visible now compared to when I started using this. My elbows & knees definitely lightened too, believe it or not, and my hair looks more alive now and is less prone to split ends even though I occasionally blow-dry my hair.

Overall, I love this product and I will definitely repurchase this once I run out. Its super affordable at 129php and will last you more than a month even if you use it everyday. This goes straight to my beauty must-haves!

Have you tried this oil yet? Would love to hear about it if you have!

Talk to you later!

As always...
JEM

Review: Ahava Matifying Moisturizer for Oily Skin

I'm always in the look-out for a good moisturizer for my oily/combination skin, especially during the summer months where my face tends to get really oily because of the heat. So just last month, I was in the mall looking for that product that could solve my skin problems. I've always been loyal to my Myra E lotion (vita white), and while I love that it leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated, I feel like my skin has gotten so used to it that it doesn't do much for my skin anymore. So I came across Ahava's counter in Shangri-la and got curious because quite frankly, I've never heard of their company before. So I checked it out and found out that they were ON SALE! Am I lucky or what!

So this is how it looks like...

Oil Free - Non-comedogenic - Approved for Sensitive Skin - Allergy Tested 

This is how the moisturizer looks like upon application:

And here's how it looks like when blended out:

Overall, I love this product. It is absorbed by my skin pretty quickly, leaving my skin glowy and hydrated. I can attest to its mattifying effects because it left my skin shine-free for hours, and whenever I use this as a make up base, I noticed that the longevity of my make up is improved. But since I have a combination skin, I only apply this on areas that I oil up easily, not on my entire face. I tried putting this on my entire face and it left some parts of it dry and flaky. So for those with combination skin, you might want to mix this moisturizer with another moisturizer of your liking so it wouldn't leave some areas dry. Good news, this moisturizer did not break me out! 

By the way, I  love the smell of this product. It smells exactly what a baby's product would smell like! I love it and I would highly, highly recommend this to oily/combination gals like me!

Currently I mix this with my Gluta-C day Cream and it leaves my face shine-free for a good of 6-8 hours, depending on the weather. I love love this and would repurchase it if its still on sale. 

Ahava counters are available in Megamall & Shangri-la malls. I got this for 648php (I think) since they were 70% off at the time. I believe their sale is still ongoing so better grab yours now! 

Thank you for reading my blog! See you on the next one!

JEM

Review: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

I used to have clear skin back in high school. I mean really, I don't remember having break outs, nor having visible pores then. But that was like 5 or 6 years ago and of course, my skin already matured after that span of time. I just started squeezing in masks like a year ago in my skin care regime, but I can already tell how much my skin has improved! It is a definite must-have for everyone out there whose skin is as problematic as mine. I've been using Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque for the past year, but when I stumbled upon this product from Innisfree (another Korean product I've fallen in love with!), I'm a convert! From their website, I've learned that this clay mask is one of their best sellers. No wonder because I'm telling you, it is that good!

Here's a  little back ground on the product. Or if you want more information you can just visit their website right here.

Jeju Volcanic Cluster 

A multi-porous structure with countless micro pores with powerful natural capacity to to absorb and sterilize like the charcoal of oak trees. It is a miraculous material that offers powerful anti-bacterial, detoxifying, and purifying and moisturizing function without additives. 

Volcanic cluster is the only week base resource similar to human blood, which is only found in Jeju island in Korea. It is currently classified as a preserved natural resource by the Special Law of Jeju Island. Volcanic Cluster, gathered from the areas not contaminated by chemicals, such as pesticides, is pulverized to remove impurities and sterilized at a temperature above 150 C. 

And because I wasn't sure yet as to what kind of reaction my skin will have with this, I decided to try their sample first. Its very small at 30 mL, but I've been using this for 3 weeks already and its still full to the brim. I think the sample size alone will last me more than a month. I only use this 3-4 times a week anyway. 

As usual, I don't understand a single thing it says, but for reference, just visit their website.

The sample size comes in a squeeze type tube. I really don't mind that it does, actually I prefer this over the ones that come in a jar. This is more convenient, not to mention hygienic too. But sadly, the original size of this thing does come in a jar type. Oh well. -__- 

Forgive me I know I have SUCH a huge face. Hihi. This is after a super long day at school. 

And here's me wearing the mask. The instructions said to leave it for 15-20 minutes only but I usually go over that time frame, especially if I'm having a bad skin day. 

Overall I love this product, and there's not a single thing I hate about it. I haven't had a pimple in my 3 weeks of using this, and I think this is the reason as to why. I usually have a pimple or two when its my time of the month but not anymore because of this wonderful mask! So far, this is the best mask I have used and I definitely will repurchase once I run out! 

Thank you for reading my blog! See you on the next ones!

JEM :)

Review/Swatch: Pinkie Swear Lipstick in LP-04

Hello ladies! Today's blog would be another review/swatch on Pinkie Swear's lipstick in LP-04, a product I'm certainly loving right now! I know. I'm giving way too much attention on lippies, but since its my current favorite lipstick, I just thought I'd share it to you. You might even thank me for it! So anyway. About Pinkie Swear. If you haven't heard of the brand yet, and I believe most of you haven't, they are the sister company of James Cooper and they recently opened a counter in Megamall about four months ago, more or less. Do correct me if I'm wrong cos I have a pretty bad memory! Hehe. So on to the review.

So the product itself is housed in a really cute pink box, something I would never ever miss considering I love the color so much!

I love that the tube takes in a color of black, while the company's name is printed in pink. The two colors combined is just super stylish for me so thumbs up for that. It also comes in a unique shape of a pinkie which I loove just because I haven't owned anything like this before. What ith its shape and all. 

I wish their lipsticks came with names instead of just codes and numbers. I think people will remember their products better if they had names, don't you think? But on a different vein, as long as the products have something to deliver, then I wouldn't mind it at all. Its just something to think about anyway. Its not that big a deal.

Here's a swatch to show you how gorgeous this shade looks like:

For me its more of a coral shade than it is a red. Maybe a little hint of red but mostly its just coral. I know I said I hate wearing pigmented lippies to school but I'm willing to make an exception for this! I've been wearing this to school for about a week now and all it gives me is that brightened up look I've always wanted. My secret? BB cream + this lippie right here!

                                               Here's how it looks like in natural lighting:

And here's how it looks like with flash:

What I love about this product: 

Its super affordable at 149php

Doesn't dry out my lips

Lasting power is pretty good too

Very easy to apply, glides on smoothly 

Unscented 

What I hate about this product: 

Honestly, there's not a single thing I dislike about this lippie! 

My rating: 

A perfect 5/5! 

Would you buy this again? 

Definitely! I think I may have found my perfect coral shade in this lippie! YEY! 

Who would you recommend this to?

If you're in the look-out for a decent coral shade that is budget friendly, then this one's for you! And if not, you can always check out their other shades, all 6 (more or less) of them. 

Thank you for reading my blog! See you on the next one dearies! 

JEM