Drugstore Week: Revlon Photoready Primer, Shadow + Sparkle Palette in Impressionist

Have you seen the new Revlon Photoready Eyeshadow Palettes? I think they're created for women who want to play with eyeshadow, but don't really know much about application. The palette is packaged in a way that no one can possibly mistake the placement of each color, and it comes with a gorgeous creamy primer, too. 

That said, if you're a bit more advanced in makeup (as I am) then I don't think this particular line is something you need in your life. Still, there's a lot to be said about the lovely shades in the Revlon Photoready Primer, Shadow + Sparkle Palette in Impressionist (P775)! It caught my eye the minute it arrived in my doorstep.

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Drugstore Week: L'Oreal EverStrong Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner

Most shampoos, hair conditioners, and toothpastes have sulfates (or listed as sodium laureth sulfate), which is a cleansing agent that gives such products a rich lather. It has gotten a bad rap in the past few years due to rumors of it causing cancer and other skin maladies, but according to my research, the worst it can do is irritate sensitive skin or give you diarrhea if you ingest it. There's not much difference between using products with and without sulfates - except for the slightly higher price tag since the alternative ingredients cost more. Oh and less suds!

"Sulfate-free" does not necessarily beget a better hair product, however, if you have sensitive skin like I do then it may be a safer choice. :) My current hair buddies are the L'Oreal EverStrong Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner (P449 each), and true enough they haven't given me any breakouts or dandruff. I finally decided to use them after I had my hair colored!

The EverStrong line is 100% sulfate-free, 100% vegan, has no harsh salts, and contains natural botanicals (whatever that means). Okay even if I sound cranky I swear I love them. :P They smell like rosemary, quite herby and aromatic! The shampoo has a rosemary and juniper fragrance, while the conditioner has mint. It even feels cool on the scalp.

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New cut and color from JURO Salon

My mid-length hair has been unbearably frizzy and unruly this summer, so I was lucky that JURO Salon asked if I wanted my hair done at their awesome salon! Blogger perks, yo. I was honestly planning to schedule a visit there this June, but I'm glad (and honored!) they were kind enough to offer the service to me at no cost.

For it is true: once you're touched by Jude and Rose, you can't be happy with any other hair stylist. :) At least in my case. My hair is difficult because it's wavy and doesn't stay in one shape for long, so its layers and length have to be cut as precisely as possible to account for the growth. In the past, I'd leave the salon feeling pleased with my styled hair, but as soon as I wash it, it just doesn't look quite as nice. With JURO, I can't wait to wash my hair! It grows out so well too that I didn't need a hair cut in like seven months (my last visit was September).

I actually liked my hair better as it grew longer!

Jude gave me a more layered cut this time. Still a short bob like before, but with more texture in the bottom.

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Drugstore Week: Nivea Baby Smoothy Cream

Julia of Bless My Bag first got me interested in the Nivea Baby Smoothy Cream (P167) when she raved about it last year. Then, Dinna Vasquez, an editor at Manila Standard, told me on Twitter that she couldn't live without it! I take raves seriously, especially when they're from people I respect, so I hunted high and low for this moisturizer.

It's not easy to find. It's usually out of stock, or simply not available in the baby section of drugstores and supermarkets. I finally got hold of in the Mall of Asia Hypermarket some months back! It was in the bottom of the Nivea baby section then. Anyway, true enough, this "miracle" cream is something special.

This is designed for baby skin, so it's gentle and tested to be hypoallergenic. It doesn't contain parabens, alcohol, and colorants. It also contains natural calendula which is a well-known herbal remedy for wounds and skin irritations. It's meant for the sensitive skin of babies, but surprise - it's also great for big girls like us!

I haven't tried the famous Embryolisse moisturizer, but people say that this is a good dupe.

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Drugstore Week: BYS Glitter Dust in Luck of the Leprechaun

Second post for Drugstore Week! Nothing really ever beats the high of finding a good beauty product at the drugstore, agree? ^_^ Today I will be featuring a recent release from one of the hottest affordable brands in the country.

I have to say this, before anything else: 3D glitter nails are extremely impractical. They don't last long, and the glitter gets everywhere if you don't clean it up properly. But boy are they ridiculously fun to wear! I enjoyed gazing at my emerald nails at random times during the day. As shallow as it sounds, I felt cheered up by the bright color and the glimmer as the sun hits it juuuuust right.

The BYS Glitter Dust in Luck of the Leprechaun (P499) is a kit that includes a nail polish, brush, and a pot of fine glitter. It's quite easy and quick to use, surprisingly. I was able to do my nails in 15 minutes since I didn't have to focus so hard on perfecting the base. A single layer will do, in fact. Here's the step-by-step!

The process is straightforward, as you can see. Paint your nails with the base, carefully avoiding the skin. It doesn't matter if the color is patchy just as long as the polish doesn't go beyond your nails.

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Accidental discovery: how to dry brushes in minutes!

I might be the last person to find out about this, but still, I'm pretty blown away. Background story: I was rushing out to my 6:30 AM yoga class the other day. I have these new Real Techniques brushes, but I haven't washed them yet even though I planned to use them later when I go out. So I deep-cleaned them before I left for yoga, and laid them on the first towel I could find. 

I checked the brushes as I was about to leave, and lo and behold - the big brush was almost completely dry! It hasn't been ten minutes since I washed it!

Granted, this brush wasn't particularly dense, but still! Apparently, the towel I used is no ordinary towel - it's an Aquazorb. It's designed to absorb water quickly, and is commonly used as a bath or gym towel. I honestly didn't know that I had Aquazorb since this towel was just a gift.

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Drugstore Week: Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil

This week's theme will be all about drugstore products. I'm pretty excited about my line-up because I adore all of them! I'm going to feature one drugstore item for the face, hair, nail, and body this week. Today, we're all about eyes!

I picked up these Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencils (P149.75) last month. I found them inside the MOA SM Department Store, where a huge-ass rack of Essence products are just hanging around with their crazy affordable price tags. I thought the texture, colors, and staying power of these pencils were impressive, so I purchased them even if (truth be told) I rarely buy cosmetics these days.

I swatched these pencils last February when Essence first arrived here. I was pleasantly surprised that the swatches remained intact even though it's been hours, and I've washed my hands several times already! For a P150 product, that's quite a feat. But how does this pencil fare on my eyes?

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Commenter of the Month for April and May gift

Hi y'all! I finally have the commenter of the month for April - Ohms! Congratulations, you just won a Pinkbox mini-closet! Please email your full name and mobile number to liz [at] projectvanity.com. As stated in the terms, you can either pick up the closet in the Pinkbox office or have it shipped to your address. :)

So, for the May gift I'm giving away generous samples from Clinique and a full-sized Chubby Stick in Two Ton Tomato. I love the Chubby Sticks, and I'm sure you will too! They're easy-to-wear lip colors that you literally just swipe and go, while also taking care of your lips. There's also a smaller size of the Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry (the best-selling shade) for you to enjoy. ;)

Oh, please don't forget to like Clinique Philippines on Facebook to get up to speed on the brand's latest breakthroughs!

Okay, same mechanics as before!

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Reader Question: Bleached or made up brows?

Good day Miss Liz! I have been contemplating for a few months now on whether to have my brows bleached or not since I found out about a brow salon that caters to such services. What's your take regarding this?

Would you recommend a made up or bleached brows? Thank you so much. :) - KD

Hi KD! Bleached eyebrows are only flattering on two occasions: if your hair is naturally/ dyed very light or if you have thick, black, and masculine eyebrows. Bleaching brows is a great way to soften them without any extra product, but believe me - a lot of girls don't actually need to do it!

If you have thin to normal brows then it's best to just have them groomed regularly at a brow salon. Some salons, like Browhaus, even offer temporary dyeing. It's a service called Browgraphy. After sculpting the brows, the aesthetician would shade them with a dark dye that's matched to your hair. The color will stay on for a week! It's an expensive service but if you're going on a holiday and you don't want to bother with makeup, then this is nice to try.

For everyday brow shaping though, there's a slew of excellent products out there. They can go as light or as dark as you wish - without the commitment. :) Here are some recommendations!

You don't need to suffer through bleached brows when there are products like the MAC Brow Set in Girl Boy. This instantly lightens brows due to its golden blonde shade.

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Pond's BB Cream

Pond's joined the BB cream bandwagon rather late, but they believe they came out with something that's totally worth the wait. True enough, the Pond's Flawless White and Age Miracle BB Creams (P399) did not disappoint. It's fairly good considering how much it costs.

I'm pleasantly surprised by how nice the texture of this Pond's product is! It's water-based and therefore non-greasy, and it does help brighten and even out the complexion instantly. It's easy to apply and it also dries in a few minutes. You won't even need a setting powder if you're not particularly oily, but if you want to extend the wear time then you must set it with foundation or at least a face powder.

By itself, this BB cream lasts for about 3 hours before it starts to fade. I don't like to think of it as foundation - it's really more of a skincare/ makeup base, the way BB creams were originally supposed to be.

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