If you haven't tried Sample Room yet, you must run over there and avail of a couple of samples. They're free! To recap, Sample Room is a beauty sampling service that allows users to choose samples with free points. Users can get back those points by simply reviewing those items. Neat eh? The first wave had Kiehl's, Benefit, Shu Uemura, Calvin Klein and Kerastase for crying out loud. Kerastase gave away 50mil bottles of their best-selling serum!

The Benefit Porefessional and Kerastase serum ran out pretty quickly (naturally), but I honestly only wanted one thing: the sample of the Kiehl's Acai Damage-Correcting Moisturizer. I love Kiehl's, and I was then looking for a new moisturizer to use (I found a "new" one now teehee). I trust Kiehl's and I'm sure the moisturizer will do wonders - just read the reviews over at Sample Room, they're convincing.

It's a 15ml sample which means that I can probably stretch it up to two weeks if used sparingly.

How long should you keep your makeup? There are recommended lengths of time for each cosmetics type but I have to admit, I don't follow them. I just have one general rule: if the product starts to smell rancid, separate, or just stop working the way it should, then in it goes to the bin!

Expiration dates for me are suggestions at best. I find that a product's shelf life is ultimately dictated by the limitation of its fomulation. For example, wet makeup like mascaras and liquid liners simply flake and dry up after four or five months. Lipsticks and glosses will start to thicken and just feel generally weird after two years. The waxes and oils in the formula will naturally dry up the more you use them, and you'll notice this when the product starts to separate (i.e. sweating lipstick, stringy gloss). The smell is the final giveaway though!

Gel products dry up faster than cream products, but you can tell if they're no good by checking the texture.

I've been excited about Sample Room since early October, but I didn't want to spoil the surprise until their big launch today. I hoped for the website to be ready for users first so you can check it ASAP! It will go live after lunch according to the SR team!

So wait - what is Sample Room? It's a beauty sampling website, but nothing like the subscription boxes that came before it. It's a different concept where users can choose their own samples at no cost other than the shipping fee. Yes, you don't need to pay a monthly fee to avail of samples and yes you can choose whatever you can afford with your free points. :)

To get the points, all you need to do is write a review for the samples you received.

A reader said on my blog post about a P1,350 lipstick yesterday, "I don't own any lippies worth over 500php. Is It really worth it po ba to spend that much for a lip product?" I think it's a great question. Why should we spend over a thousand pesos for just one lipstick? Or P8,000 for a hair makeover? Or over P10,000 for a bag?

Well, we don't have to. It's fairly straightforward. We don't have to spend any more money than we need to, especially if we don't have much to begin with. We can just keep on buying P500 lipsticks for the rest of our natural lives and still find meaning in prioritizing other things that matter. Some people love to travel more, or read, or eat, or spend time with people they love. Their disposable income goes to their personal pursuit of happiness.  

So I suppose that it comes down to what we value.

Would you believe that it was only a couple of weeks ago that I finally tried Laura Mercier? I mean I check it out in Rustan's every so often, but something else ends up catching my attention. I think it's high time to look closely at the brand and what it has to offer!

Laura Mercier started out as a painter in France, and then moved on to become a makeup artist to the biggest stars in the 80s and 90s. It was in 1996 when she built her own company. She is all about creating the flawless face, with focus on glowing, natural-looking skin. Most of her makeup are neutral but I observed that they come in quirky and interesting shades far removed from the usual browns.

Art Deco Muse, the Holiday 2012 Collection of Laura Mercier, is inspired by the decorative architecture, style, and mood of the Art Deco Period in Paris in the mid-1920s. The look features golds and bronzes paired with high-shine reds and deep blacks. The face is sculpted and nails in rich shades of blood red and noir.

Nail Lacquer (P745), Lip Lacquer / Glace (P995), Creme Smooth Lip Colour (P1,250), Faux Lash Mascara (P995), Caviar Eye Liner (P995), Second Skin Cheek Colour in Wild Bouquet (P995)

Eyeshadow singles (P950)

Beauty boxes are all the rage these days. They're a convenient and exciting way to sample new products that (ideally) you won't find by yourself. It's just like giving yourself a monthly surprise gift! But there are downsides. You have no idea if you'll even like what's inside the box, moreso if the subscription fee - not really cheap at P500 to P600 - will even cover what's inside it. I've seen a box that features drugstore products and another that everyone says is a total rip-off with the overall value much less than the fee. What do you think?

Don't lose hope yet, though! Glamourbox has a really nice box, their first, for November. They have premium brands in the list as well as intriguing names that we've never heard of before. I guess the most important thing is that you get more than what you paid for. See for yourself, here are pictures of and my comments on the things inside!

Welcome post card with product info and prices in the back

A lot of girls have mentioned that they don't want to mess with their leg or facial hair because they're worried that the regrowth may be thicker. Well, I'm happy to say that's a myth! The hair that you see on the surface is already dead. Shaving or cutting it close to the skin does not in any way affect the live hair growing out.

The regrowth looks thicker and feels scratchier simply because it's been cut near the base. Therefore, it looks darker, compared to the tapered fine tips that you just removed.

This took a while! Etude House Korea actually sent the Pink Bird box to me last month, but it was only two days ago that I received it. The box was stuck in customs for some reason. 0_0 Anyway, here's what's new at Etude!

Featured this month are the Etude House Collagen Moistful Cream and the Etude House Precious Mineral BBdation Special Kit. 

The Collagen Moistfull Cream has been around for a while, and is in fact Etude's best-selling item ever. According to them, they sell nine of these jars every minute!

There's a recent article on the Philippine Daily Inquirer that has been gnawing on the my brain ever since I read it. It doesn't offend me or annoy me, but I am affected by it nonetheless. 

It’s not that I don’t like school. I’m just not one of those airheaded girls who just go to school to show off their latest artsy manicures, or some style they ripped off from “Gossip Girl.”

My school is already full of those girls, Blair Waldorf or Serena van der Woodsen wannabes. I wonder, when did our society cease to celebrate originality and elevate these goddesses of modern consumption?

It’s not that I have anything against these girls, but I have trouble seeing the point... Why do we actually need to get the same shade of lipstick? I entered college, not a beauty contest.

Basically, the writer is saying that she's better than her vain classmates because she doesn't wear "Gossip Girl fashion" to her school. She's always in jeans, a t-shirt, sneakers, and a Hawk bag. She rides the jeep. She denounces Victoria's Secret scents (because they "merit a biohazard warning"), as well as "those painful-looking high heels". She doesn't say it explicitly, but she thinks she's a cut above the girls who love to dress up and wear makeup.

Sooo, how was your vacation? Mine dragged as I didn't go out of town or even to the mall. I spent my long weekend watching TV shows, reading books, and playing a new game (Disgaea 4!). Speaking of books, if you like Cinderella-type stories, you should consider reading The Selection (Hunger Games-ish) and A Kiss at Midnight (Cinderella with no magic, more wit). They're not particularly good books but they're fun to read!

Anyway today I want to talk about my visit to Regatta a couple of weeks ago. I have to be honest, I was only expecting the usual preppy stuff like polos, collared shirts, and sensible bottoms. Regatta does carry these must-haves - in better quality than what's usually in department stores - but I like that they came out with uber chic printed pieces! You'll see them later. ;)

Here's a quick tour!

Regatta has casual stuff for you and the special men in your lives

Unisex fragrances and accessories

So you already know what my favorite bag is right now. Here's what's inside! Surprise, there's A LOT of stuff in it. I'm big on travelling light but if there's extra space I tend to throw in more things just because. Oooh I forgot to take a picture but I also sometimes stuff a pair of thin heels inside if I need to!

Breakdown:

 1. Book of the moment: The Bride Wore Pearls by Liz Carlyle. It's a romance novel, haven't gotten too far yet to tell if it's any good. I like bringing books if I know I'm in for a loooot of waiting in meetings and what not.

2. House keys. See that Happy Lemon key chain? Proof that I'm addicted to that stuff. You get a key chain for free if you complete 16 stamps on the loyalty card. I stopped getting stamps because I felt embarrassed by all the Happy Lemon I'm gulping down.

I have a few Kiehl's products but I haven't taken a serious look at the store before, not really. For instance did you know that they have hair products? They have shampoos, conditioners, volumizer, and even a hair oil very similar to Kerastase at less than half the prize. They also have specialized skincare lines with a heavy focus on natural ingredients like acai berry, amazonian clay, and sunflower oil to name a few.

Inspired by its city of origin, Kiehl's brings a piece of New York in all their stores here in the Philippines. Here's what their space in Rockwell looks like!

Moving Statue of Liberty holding a Kiehl's torch. Cheeky!

The place looks more like a bistro than a beauty store

I fell in love with Beauty Bar in college. There was a big shiny branch in Robinson's Ermita, right in front of my university. I swear I would spend hours every week just looking at their stuff! Yeah it was a little embarrassing, seeing as I rarely bought anything, but I couldn't stay away. It was my special place at a time when I was just discovering the colorful world of beauty.

When I talk about myself from all those years ago (well, barely three years ago) it's like I'm talking about an entirely different person. Today these opportunities are open to me and sometimes, it's hard to believe that's it's all because I blogged. I feel giddy that one of my favorite stores invited me to visit their new branch. I feel good that if I want anything from the store, I can buy it without batting an eyelash.

I'm not bragging ha, I'm just looking back with a twinge of pride that I've come this far. :) Anyway! You can now find Beauty Bar in Bonifacio High Street, on top of Muji. The place is breathtaking - it's well-lit, spacious, and luxurious-looking. There's even a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in one corner, which spills out to an al fresco area that looks over to Serendra. Do I sniff a new hangout place?

“When I shop, I just get what I like on the mannequins! I don’t like looking around!” said a friend of mine over lunch. I was marginally scandalized. I’m a person who can’t settle on a purchase without seeing everything first. How can I possibly make an informed decision if I don’t know all my options? How can anyone else?

Hehe, seriously, I think of shopping somewhat like a game. And I loooove having a companion to shop for. A couple of weeks ago, I accompanied the winner of my Palmolive Naturals Stylista Speaks contest  to her shopping spree at Forever 21 Makati. It was such a fun experience because it’s my first time to go shopping with a new friend!

Her name is Marie. She’s a pretty just-out-of-college woman who is very sweet and kikay. Ahhh, a girl after my own heart (well except for the sweet part, har di har har). She wanted to find good deals at first since some items were on sale, but I persuaded her to invest in some pieces that I think she’ll enjoy wearing again and again! I also gave her my tried-and-tested shopping tips, which I shall post here!

There's a survey that says that the marketing and PR industry is the #2 most caffeinated of them all. I'm in it and I like caffeine (tea please!) but I don't normally rely on stimulating beverages to get me through the day. But! This month is so hectic that I might need to start smoking tea! (Random, I just googled that and people actually do smoke tea leaves. FYI. Don't do it though, you will still kill your lungs.)

Anyway, I'm planning and hosting two events to be executed in the next two weeks, plus there are so many beauty releases this month. If September is fashion month, October has got to be the beauty month. The holiday season is near so people are starting to shop for gifts and prettifiers to use for the inevitable string of parties. Beauty brands know this so they're either launching or promoting their best products of the year!

I thought I'd show you a sneak peak of what I'll be talking about in the coming days. Here are a few new things I received in the last two weeks

Fall isn't just a season, at least, not when it comes to the fashion and beauty industry. Fall is a change in the overall mood of women, perhaps brought about by the colder weather and longer nights. We adjust our routines and with it our clothing and beauty products. That's why even if there's no autumn in our country, we're still affected by the global fashion zeitgeist during this time of year.

So! Today I want to talk about the Guerlain Fall 2012 Collection which is now available in the Philippines. Everything is beautifully packaged in gleaming bullets and compacts, and the color selection is just wonderfully rich and seductive.

There are two themes: Femme Fatale, which is all about fiery passion in deep red and chocolate colors. In contrast, Femme d' Amour is more romantic and angelic, with rose and dainty pinks in the color story. I found a nice video where Guerlain's National Makeup Artist Marcus Monson showed how we can achieve the looks. Which one are you today? ;)

Here are more photos and pricing info on the featured products!

When I started Ask Liz! I just wanted a centralized, public place to store all my answers to your questions. Now, 275 questions later, I find that it has evolved into a sort of micro-community for beauty enthusiasts. I love that you guys are interacting with each other and answering other questions that I can't help with. How awesome is that? Cheers to everyone who posts! :D

Here are my answers to some recent questions.

I saw a quote earlier today that went something like, "Creativity changes the way people behave". I believe this. Creativity has a role in functionality, but creativity for the sake of it is also powerful. A pretty picture, for example, has no practical use except for the emotions or ideas that it evokes in the observer. It can change how a person looks at the world and that's a damn amazing thing, if you ask me.

I think it's the same for beauty products that are nice to have but are not necessary to keep. Why make them if only a few people can truly appreciate them? I somewhat answered this in an old post. An object, however useless it may seem, can make a person feel cuter, refined, more put together. If something can do any of these things then I wouldn't call it useless!

I scoured through my photo archives and found three products that are nice but unnecesary to have. Of course, this list is subjective, so what might not be super useful to me might be useful for you. Have at it!

I love the look of fresh, dewy and glowing skin. Can you give me a few products that will help me achieve that? Thank you. - Therese

Hi Therese! I love this question because I love glowy skin as well. I don't understand the obsession with matte skin because our skin is not matte in its natural state. Nothing screams *makeup* than a face that's covered in a blanket of matte powder, for me! Shine is fine as long as you're able to control it and place it strategically on your face.

A dewy-looking face starts with good skin, of course, so make sure that your skincare routine is up to spec. I find that using serums make a huuuuge difference - try the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate or the Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin Serum (which I am testing recently). These work super well! As for makeup, there are many products that you can use to achieve a glowy face. The trick is to use only one or two of them at any given time, depending on the look you want to achieve.

Face Base: for an all-over glow

A thin, light-coverage foundation can deliver dewy skin simply because it allows our natural skin to shine through. Remember, in order to achieve dewy skin, you must not cover up your bare skin with too much makeup. Light, illuminating makeup will just enhance your skin, not blot it out.

The Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup gives such a nice dewy finish. If you want something with even lighter coverage, try the VMV Hypoallergenics Skintangible SPF30 which is a tinted moisturizer with SPF30.