My Go To Summer Look

Hello there guys! So today I decided to share to you my everyday go to look for this summer. This one is really simple and doesn't look make up-y in anyway. Its very natural looking and is also super easy to pull off. Its just enough to make you look more polished and put together. Perfect if you're meeting your girlfriends for lunch or coffee, and since my friends love to take candid shots whenever we're out, I always try to look my best whenever I'm with my crazies! You just never know who's gonna see your pictures, right?! Haha!

Personally, if you ask me, summer look, or any day time look for that matter, should still look like yourself but juuust a bit more enhanced. So when people see you, they'd still recognize you but just see a better looking you. Like you didn't put much effort into looking like that even though you really did! Effortless beauty, like what they always say.

And besides, summer isn't exactly the best time to be sporting heavy coverage make up, right? Unless you have to for a debut, birthday, or a wedding, then by all means, but for something to be worn on an everyday basis? Don't think so! So, let's get started shall we?

So first of all, if you have oily or extremely oily skin, I would definitely recommend you use a make up primer first. Not only will it blur out the appearance of your pores, it will also improve the longevity of your make up. Maybelline has a newly released one called the Pore Erase and some even compared it to Benefit's Porefessional but I can't really say for sure since I am yet to try it, but its by far the most affordable drugstore primer (priced at 299php) out there, followed by Elf's Infused Mineral Primer which retails at 399php. Most primers are silicone based so if you have no issues with it breaking you out, then the ones I suggested are great but otherwise, do a patch test first just to be sure.

Now on to the products I used to achieve this look...

1. Most people like to use concealer after their foundation or bb creams, but I like to do it the other way around. I start out with concealer first because I have super pigmented dark spots caused by acne and I just find that they cover up better that way, and I just like to blend it using my fingers. I love liquid concealers because they're lighter in formula compared to cream type ones and unlike the latter they have less chance of caking up. I'm using the one from L.A. pro conceal in Honey Beige. A little darker than my skin but it blends in really nicely after bb cream.


2. So here I'm using the BB cream from Tony Moly called the Luminous Goddess Aura. Reason why I love it is because it really brightens up my face enough to make me look like I had a good night's sleep, but not so in a way that I look like I have some weird mask on. It comes off really light so blending is key here to make it seem more natural. It also has an spf of 37 to boot so its reallly perfect for day time wear. It has a semi dewy finish, almost powdery actually, so I always finish up with a translucent powder for it to last longer in this extremely hot weather! Read my full review here.

3. I love to use Krave's Oil Eliminator and Skin Hydrating Primer as my finishing veil because it doesn't cake and it really improves the wear time of my make up!


4. Next is this brow kit from ELF. I'm not sure if this comes in a lighter color but I have the dark brown if any of you asks. I know this is too much to claim but this is by far my HG brow kit! Alright, I may be getting ahead of myself and to be fair, its the one and only brow kit I've used, but
considering it has withstood this steaming hot weather we've been having almost every single day, its enough to make me claim that much! The kit is a no brainer, and you basically apply the wax first and then seal it with the brow powder. Et voila. Lovely brows for the rest of the day!

5.I like to curl my lashes with ELF's Mechanical Eyelash curler. I've had this since November last year and its been doing a great job ever since. I usually stop at just curling my eyelashes because I have this habit or rubbing my eyes and it almost feels like a reflex to me so as much as possible, I don't wear mascara. But when I do I use the Magnum Volume Mascara from Maybelline which is also really lovely but I wasn't able to include it in the photo above.

6. For the eyes I like to use Prestige's Waterproof Eyeliner. Its great for lining the waterline because the end isn't as pointy or as sharp like that of others I've tried. It may not be smudge-proof but it does stay put for a decent amount of time so long as you don't rub your eyes. I love to line my waterline because it adds just the right amount of drama and doesn't look overdone at all.

7. Now for the cheeks I prefer gel blushes over powder ones because I find that they give a more natural finish. Powder forms tend to look cakey and is almost gone by the end of the day. The one that hasn't left my make up bag since last year is Rucy's Vanity Lip and Cheek tint. I love it because it literally stays on all day! And it has the most natural looking color too, and did I mention affordable? Read my full review here.

8. And last but not the least, for the lips I'm going to use the one from M&co from their Crystal Shine Lipstick line in Peachy Pink. As the name already suggests, the color is leaning towards peach with a hint of pink to it. Peach based lipsticks compliment those who are fair with yellow undertones so this is really just perfect for me. The color isn't too loud either and is simply perfect for the summer!

                                        Gorjas shade you agree?! A real steal at around 179php
                                               if my memory serves me right! :)

DAF OFF NG LOLA MO! Haha! But yes, this is how I usually look like without any make up on. This is after washing my face, using toner, and moisturizer.

And the finished look. ANYARE?! The power of make up nga naman! :) 

And now I'm ready to go out! 

Now that's basically what I wear on most days! How about you? What's your go to summer look?

xoxo, 

JEM

Review/Swatch: Ever Bilena's Magic Lipstick in Grapes

HAPPY FRIDAY DOLLS! 

So I decided to make a super quick post for tonight, before I continue with studying a bunch of readings for the finals next week. Ain't that grand! So anyways. You've probably seen this around before, which won't come as a surprise to me as this is one of Ever Bilena's best selling products. Its from their Magic Lipstick line and I got the one in Grapes, just because I'm on the hunt for a mauve-ish lippie. 

Not a mauve-ish lippie by the way. What is FAIL. 

It comes in 5 other flavors - Strawberry, Orange, Lemon, Apple & Watermelon. I don't think they'd differ much in shades though but that's just me. You can still see for yourself. 

It comes in a white tube with a translucent cap that has a very flimsy feel to it. Oh you really do get what you pay for, huh? From the bullet it looks very mauve but when applied, it is clearly veeery fuschia. I'm not sure why its called a "magic" lipstick but from what I figured, (its not exactly rocket science) it is because it gives off a very sheer color when freshly applied like that of a lip balm but once it settles in, the color will be more dramatic.  

It applies like a lipbalm but I do find that it dries my lips overtime so I always keep a lip balm around when I'm using this. For the price, I'd have to say its worth every penny even though I'm not a huge fan of the color pay off. The lasting power is definitely a winner though! It leaves a beautiful looking stain on your lips at the end of the day - like you've just bitten your lips a thousand times or something. Just to give you a picture. :)

My bare lips for reference:

And this is how it looks like upon application. It will look more pigmented after a few minutes, I promise. 

Overall, if you're looking for an affordable lipstick that isn't so hard to find (Ever Bilena counters are almost everywhere now!) and of course, does its job, then you might want to try this. And its super affordable too. You definitely can't go wrong with the price! A real steal at 80php ($1.97)! RAD, HUH! 

So what do you think? Have you tried anything from the magic lipstick line? Do share if you have! 

As always...

JEM

Snoe Beauty Parallel Pigments CC Cream in Wheat

Truth be told, I used to loathe make up cos my mom always told me to veer away from them as they're bad for the skin. She says I don't need them because I'm already beautiful and make up is only for mature skin. And I was 13 or 15 at the time and when it is mom's orders, it is mom's orders. Well, honestly, I didn't really figure that much until college came in and all my dorm mates, classmates, and pretty much all the girls I knew, wear make up and I'm like, wearing a Johnson's baby powder or something. So much thanks to Youtube cos its where I learned the basics of make up. And its for free! But you know that already so not much news right there. 

 So when I started experimenting on make up, one of the few products that got me hooked was highlighters/skin brighteners. I think its cos I watched too much Korean dramas at the time, and I just can't help but be fascinated by the actresses dewy, but never oily, skin. Their signature dewy skin plus just bitten lips are two things I have completely fallen in love with. So today, I want to share to you one of my lovely finds this year. Snoe Beauty's Parallel Pigments CC Cream in Wheat. 

The "subtle glow" got me here, which is why I got the one in Wheat. Fret not because there are other variants of this CC cream so I'm sure you'll find something for your skin. :)

What Snoe Beauty claims:

So in a nutshell, CC creams are not much like foundations with coverage, but more like primers with skin benefits. It evens and corrects your skin tone, boosts the appearance of your make up, and improves your foundation's wear time.

Ingredients:

It comes off very white but when blended in it adjusts well enough to my natural skin tone. No white cast or whatsoever (thumbs up!)

Let me show you how it looks on my skin. 

Obviously my skin isn't in tip top shape right now but notice how it toned down the redness going on in my skin. It also brightened up my face so I think if you have good skin, you can get away with just this and a bit of powder on top! 

And here, I put one layer of my Pinkie's Collection foundation. Some of my blemishes are still peeking through but that's because my camera captures even the smallest of details. (In denial pa ako, haha!) But kidding aside, I love the blooming kind of glow it gave to my skin. I never get that when I only have BB cream on so I guess its the CC cream working, eh? 

JEM SAYS:

I think its a great and affordable product. Its my first ever CC cream and I'd have to say, I'm quite happy with it. It indeed gives a very subtle glow as opposed to other skin brighteners I encountered in the past that have obvious shimmers. This, however, is au naturale. And like I said, what you get is the blooming kind of glow which would make heads turn. My only beef about it is the packaging. It could get messy if you're not careful but anyway, overall, its a great product! Not bad for my first ever CC cream! Priced at 399php ($9.84) in stores. 

As always...

JEM

Ever Bilena Famous Lipstick in Watermelon (Review and Swatch)

Hello guys! What's up? My class doesn't start until 3 pm so I decided I'd do a quick review! I'm trying to blog as often as I can - now that I only have a few exams left until summer comes in again.

So for those of you who do not know, aside from being a BB cream junkie, I'm also a lipstick junkie. I've gone through this phase last year of just checking out every make up counter I know to see what's new in their lipstick line. IT WAS PURE BLISS I TELL YOU! Everytime I get to buy one, the feeling's  like being rewarded for something you've accomplished. Anyways! This lippie is one of those that I bought when I was going through that phase. Its from Ever Bilena's Famous Line in Watermelon.

I super love the packaging. When I first saw this, I mistook it for Maybelline's Jewel Collection as they have striking similarities - the color of the packaging being translucent and in deep red too.

SWATCH:

JEM'S THOUGHTS: 

(I'm sorry if my lips don't look their prime here)

It looks really deceiving on the tube. It looks sort of nude-ish but it dictates otherwise when applied. Its rather pigmented actually. For me the color payoff is really nice - coral with a hint of peach to it. It really brightens up my complexion which is why its one of the very few lipsticks I reach for these days. The finish is a bit glossy, so if you're looking for a long lasting, matte lippie, this isn't for you. But I'd still recommend it anyway just because the color's lovely. Like I said, its not a long lasting lipstick. It will sit on your lips for about 2 hours max, after that, you're going to need to retouch. 

Overall, I'd give it a 4/5. Its definitely worth every cent and I simply can't wait to try out their other shades! I got this for 155php ($3.81) and is available almost anywhere! Haha, seriously though, I've been seeing a lot of Ever Bilena counters these days. I even saw it in 7/11 just a month ago! :) 

Anyways, have you tried any from this line? Do share if you have! Would love to hear from you! 

-Jem

Pinkie's Collection BB/Foundation Review

Hey folks! Today's post would be about this foundation I've been using for about a few months now. I bought this some time in November on a whim because the foundation junkie inside me said so. And also, after trying out one of their lippies which I already reviewed here, I knew I'd be visiting a Pinkie's Collection counter soon.

So when it comes to BB creams or foundations, I prefer those that can go from medium to full, coverage wise, because they are such time savers! Well, I have long accepted the fact that I'm always going to need a concealer if I want a flawless finish, but I'm referring to those days when I want to wear make up and still look human. Ya know, for school wear and stuff wherein you only need to look polished because you're a lady, but not so in a way that its too obvious that you're wearing make up.

This is the shade I got it in: 

And obviously, ze ingredients:

This brand used to be called Pinkie Swear, but later on last year they changed it to Pinkie's Collection because another company in the US has already been named as such. If you've known about this brand for quite some time now and have been using some of their products already, then I don't need to tell you that the products are pretty much the same. Nothing has changed, except the label, of course.

I've been seeing a lot of Pinkies Collection counters lately so if you're not familiar with the brand yet, now's the time to visit a counter!

Now on to the product.

PACKAGING: 

I have nothing bad to say in this department. The packaging is really simple and neat, which is how I would have preferred my bb creams or foundations to be. Its fuss free and straight to the point! I think they're one of those few cosmetic companies who spend very little on packaging BUT more on the product itself. I believe they already updated their packaging so no more sticker labels!

CONSISTENCY: 

The consistency is rather thick and creamy. Its is easy to spread and finishes off dewy so for oily skinned gals like yours truly, a finishing veil is a must if you don't want this product sliding off on your face after hitting the 2 hour mark. For the consistency that it has, I'd say it is better suited to those who have normal/dry skin. However, I do have an oily/acne prone skin so I make this work by always finishing off with powder. No breakouts so far so yey for that!

SMELL: 

I'm not exactly sure how to describe the smell but maybe because its not that bad to begin with. It doesn't have a distinct smell, nor does it have a scent that lingers like Missha Pore Cover bb cream or Skinfood's Peach Sake. But if you do get a whiff of it, it does smell a bit like plastic. Doesn't bother me one bit so I think you're good.

SHADE:

The shade I'm a bit disappointed about. They only have two shades to choose from, one is for pale skinned (light) gals and the other for yellow (dark) toned gals. I am fair skinned but have yellow undertones. See the problem? So I hope they come up with a wider shade range soon! I fix this by using a lighter finishing veil. It does adjust decently enough that my face isn't darker than my neck, but I'm still hoping they release more shades in the future!

COVERAGE: 

I would say medium to semi full, but definitely not full. It is able to conceal minor blemishes but definitely for major ones you're gonna need a concealer.

WEAR TIME:

It stays put for about 4-5 hours, after that there will be signs of it fading. I haven't tried it with primer though because I broke out from it once and since then I swore, NEVER AGAIN. Haha! Well, if you are a primer user and you have no issues of it breaking you out then by all means use one.

Enough talking! Let them pictures do ze talking!

So here's how it looks like upon dispensing the product out.

So just to show you how yellow it is, I decided to put a swatch of my Missha Perfect Cover #23 alongside Pinkie's Collection.

And here's a closer look on the two.

 And because I love you guys, I will show you how it looks like on my skin! I don't usually show my bare skin but because its my way of making it up to all of you, I WILL! Haha! Its not in tip top shape right now so I'm sorry! This isn't for the faint hearted! You've been warned!

But anyway, just to give you a picture of how amazing the coverage is. :D

This is still fresh from application so yeah, its a taaaad bit darker than my neck but its hardly noticeable, noh? Anyways, this is after doing one layer. 

And after two layers! As you can see in the picture below, except for those tiny little bumps that aren't even pimples, I think this bb cream slash foundation did great, coverage wise. LURVE IT! :)

So overall, if you're looking for an affordable drugstore foundation that has decent coverage, this is it! My only beef about this bb cream is that it doesn't have any SPF on it considering that that's the number one thing bb creams should have. Looking at the brighter side of it, that could be a good thing too because you won't look like you have mask on on flash photogs. So I think its better to call it a foundation then? Haha! Whatever! One thing's for sure though, this product is awesome and I can definitely see myself buying another one when I run out!

So how about you, have you tried this amazing foundation yet?! Would love to hear about it if you have! :)

Review: Snoe Beauty Awesome Poresome Microdermabrasion Retexturizing Polish

Hi ladies! Today's post is a review on one of my lovely finds last year. You can find my haul post in here. 

Anyways! I know I'm a bit late as everyone seemed to have already experienced the goodness of Snoe, but you know what they say, better late than never! So here I am, joining the bandwagon, and about to share to you this product my skin seems to agree with lately. 

First of all, I love how its called "polish" instead of the usual "scrub". It gives you that idea of something gentle and easy on the skin. I have always relied on good ole St. Ives to do the trick when I need to exfoliate but  decided to stop it because it left a nasty scar on my cheek area. It could be because I've gone mad with exfoliation but still, its not supposed to do that, right?  So that's why this polish got me - because it claims to clean out your pores without being harsh on the skin. 

So the key ingredients are: Witch Hazel Extract, Azeloglicina (this is my 1st encounter with this ingredient), and Pineapple Extract. 

I bought this almost 3 months ago, and even though I use this 3 times a week, I still have a lot of product left.  That's because a little goes a long way. And don't be like me. Don't think that the more product you put on your face, the more it becomes effective. Remember, its your skin we're talking about in here so be gentle!

DOES IT WORK? 

I've been using this for nearly 3 months now, from the day I bought it, up to know, and yes, I can say it does work, just not overnight. Nothing ever does.

 I discovered a way to maximize its use so what I do is prior to this polish, I steam my face for about 5-10 minutes. Don't have a facial sauna at home? Click here. Don't worry, its free!

Now the logic behind steaming is to simply eliminate clogged pores. Its because when you steam, you perspire, which helps cleanse the skin. It improves the circulation in your face which would result to a more glowing and younger looking skin. When you steam you can use pretty much any scrub that works for your skin type, heck you can even use sugar if you don't have a facial scrub at the moment, but this one works great for me and I couldn't be more happier with how my skin looks now! 

This is by far the gentlest exfoliator I have tried that does what it says it would do without being abrasive on the skin. (A shout out to the sensitive ladies out there!) 

I'm happy to report that after three months of using this product, my once enlarged and visible pores are not as noticeable anymore. They are not completely gone, and if I look closely in the mirror, they're still there, but they are not much of a trouble now. My pores definitely improved because I don't oil up as much now, my make up goes on smoother (remember, your make up is only as good as your skin), and I don't break out as often as I used to. 

If you want to see results, and I'm sure you do, you really have to be patient when it comes to testing a product. Give it time. I'm sure something good will come out of it. :)

Do you recommend? 

BIG YES! :) 

Repurchase? 

I don't see a reason why I wouldn't. It might seem a bit expensive at first (399php or $9.80) but believe me, this jar will last you a loooong time. Its been with me for three months now and as you can see in the picture above, I still have a lot of it left. I think its enough to last me another two months. 

The Bad Bits? 

It would be nice if this had more acne fighting ingredients. Something like Salicylic Acid or perhaps Tea Tree Oil? Anyways, its just something to think about for now. But if that happens, this product would definitely be perfect! 

Another con I see is that this isn't widely available yet. But it shouldn't be a problem because they have an online store. I will provide a link of that below, don't worry! 

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How about you? Have you tried this product yet? If not, what's your favorite scrub as of the moment? Would love to hear about it! 

Snoe Beauty - Shopinas

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Review: GNC Vitamin C Moisturizing Cream

Ever since I was a little kid, my mom already made my brother and I take chewable forms of Vitamin C. I didn't know what it was for then but I take one anyway because it tastes like candy! 

I'm definitely no stranger to this vitamin now because I have been taking one since time immemorial, but it was only quite recently that I discovered the goodness of Vitamin C creams! So today, I can only thank my mom for introducing me to this wonderful vitamin. 

Vitamin C is known for giving protection to the immune system, cardiovascular disease, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling. It is a powerful antioxidant that may help slow down the aging process because as we age, our production of collagen slows down resulting to fine lines and wrinkling. Which is why I'm so glad I stumbled upon this moisturizing cream from GNC, which is not only affordable, but also, does what is says it would do. 

It is basically an oil free moisturizer, which is perfect for those of you who has oily to combination skin. I have the latter so this suited me quite nicely. The scent is a bit overpowering at first but that could be just me because I've always preferred my moisturizers to be fragrance free. However, it doesn't linger for too long and goes away almost immediately. The product I would say has a pretty weird consistency, its like a cross between a cream and a gel, but more like gel. It takes quite a while to sink in, maybe 3-5 minutes, but that's something I don't mind because once it sinks in, it leaves you a really nice canvas for your make up. However, I can't use this alone in the morning because it doesn't have spf on it, so I use a separate one for that, a plus if your foundation/bb cream already has one. 

Here are the ingredients: (Because as usual, I'm too lazy to write it down, haha!) 

1st photo: Upon application 

2nd photo: semi blended 

3rd photo: blended

4th: once absorbed by the skin 

This is a really promising product, and I've just hit pan with it last week. I always wake up to a more supple and glowing skin. But if you're looking for a whitening treatment, this is definitely the last product you should look into because it does nothing but make your skin feel and look healthier. The jar lasted me for about a month with everyday usage, morning and evening, and so far, I don't see any reason why I wouldn't repurchase.

 Its fairly priced at 175php ($4.31) so if it doesn't work for you, use it as a handcream! But I doubt that it won't because its a really nice moisturizer, perfect for an ordinary day here in the Philippines because it doesn't feel heavy at all!

So to sum it all up! 

The Good Bits!

• Affordable (175php/$4.31) 
• Locally available 
• Best suited for those with oily to combination skin 
• Does not ball up under make up
• Does not break me out 
• Oil-free 
• Manufacturing date and Expiration date included 

The Bad Bits!

• No SPF included
• Only available in GNC stores (although it is also available in their online store) 
• Might not suit those with dry or extremely dry skin. 

To check out more of their products, click here! 

How about you? Have you tried this yet? If not, what's your favorite Vitamin C moisturizer? Would love to hear about it!