Hong Kong Photo Diary
I'm back! I was in Hong Kong last week for a vacation with my parents. It was fun but exhausting, and of course I had to work whenever I can get hold of wifi. Suffice it to say that I'm done with traveling for a while. It majorly disrupts my routine and therefore my life - it's so difficult to get back on track! I don't know how other people can go in and out of the country and not miss a beat.
Maybe it just takes practice, huh?
Anyway, I just want to share a few photos I took of Hong Kong. The province has a beautiful harbor, but inside it is very much like Manila. It's a great shopping destination! Otherwise there isn't much to see that'll be worth visiting a second time. Maybe it's just not my scene.
The harbor on a gorgeous day
Aberdeen Fishing Village
Three colognes to try
Do you wear colognes? I rarely do these days because I prefer eau de toilettes due to the better staying power and more complex selections available. Nonetheless, I still appreciate a nice cologne especially if it's affordable. They're perfect for young women who want to smell fresh and pretty without spending a lot of money for a bottle! Colognes don't last very long since they are alcohol-based, but you can just chuck them in your bag and spray as much and as often as you need to.
I recently came across three colognes that I think you (or your younger niece and cousin) would enjoy. ^_^ I love how effervescent, sweet, and young these scents are. They're just perfect for tweens in elementary and high school, teens in college, and working girls just starting out in their careers. Check 'em out!
Pure n Fresh is known best for personal hygiene products, but a couple of months ago the brand ventured into scents for tweens. Tropical Splash, Blush Berry, and Tangerine Delight are bright colognes that feature luscious fruity combinations. Tangerine Delight is citrusy with mandarin, orange, and apple notes; Blush Berry is sweet with strawberry, pear, and apple blossom; while Tropical Splash is soft and creamy with apricot and peach.
I love Kiehl's: the Skin Rescuer and Line-Reducing Concentrate
I only started using Kiehl's last year, but since then it's been a staple in my skincare regimen. I'm a huge huge fan of the Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleanser, the Ultra Light Daily UV Defense, Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, and the Midnight Recovery Concentrate! I find Kiehl's to be gentle on my skin while still being extremely effective at the same time. The products also never cause me to break out.
A couple of months back, the brand sent me some new products to try. I've been using two of them regularly until I switched to a new regimen - purely for review purposes mind you, not because the Kiehl's stuff didn't work out. Anyway, here's a review of the new Skin Rescuer and Line-Reducing Concentrate! I'll save the Beautifying BB Cream for next time as I have only used it once.
The Kiehl's Skin Rescuer Stress-Minimizing Daily Hydrator (P1,700) is a basic moisturizer that is formulated to lessen the effect of stress on our skin. Its key ingredients are the Rose Gallica Extract (limits the release of stress signals), Mannose (a sugar from the wood pulp of birch and maple tress, said to increase the moisture barrier), Chamomile Extract (to sooth skin), and Squalane (from olives, to prevent dehyhdration).
Five tips on how to wake up with glowing skin
Did you know that your beauty regimen at night is just as important as your routine during the day? Oil and sun protection are your top concerns when the sun is out. However, it's easy to overlook dehydration and insufficient nourishment at night. This is the reason you sometimes wake up with a dull and tired-looking face!
Night time is the best time to allow your skin to recuperate from the day's stresses. It's when your body is resting completely that it is able to better absorb any nourishment you care to shower it. If you don't have a good night regimen yet, here are five things you can do that'll help you wake up with glowing skin every morning!
1. Double-cleanse your face. There's cleansing with facial wash, and then there's a thing called double-cleansing. This is a simple technique where you use a makeup remover first before you lather with your facial wash! It's okay to wash your face only once during the morning, but at night you would have accumulated a lot of dirt, oil, and bacteria on top of your makeup. It's absolutely important to be able to remove ALL of that before you move on to the rest of your night routine.
You can use a cleansing oil or water-based makeup remover to wipe off the makeup. Then, proceed to massage your face thoroughly with your preferred facial wash. I like the foamy ones, I feel they clean better. If you have dry skin though, you should go for non-foaming, non-soapy cleansers to keep your moisture barrier intact.
2. Allow your skin to indulge in a rich moisturizer. Due to the humidity in the Philippines, most of us prefer to use light, maybe even water-based moisturizers. These are great to wear during the day, but at night, we need something more moisturizing.
My top 10 favorite finds last July
July was a crazy awesome month for me. I was able to visit Tokyo for the launch of Shiseido's latest skincare line, Ibuki! Even with the surprise trip, I also managed to organize a press and blogger event for Pinkbox (more on that soon). I'm not bragging, honest. I'm saying all this with a mild disbelief: how?
Counting chairs
August should be a quieter month, I think! I am going to Hong Kong today to relax a little, see the sights, shop for interesting things. I've scheduled a few posts for you that I think you'll like, so keep on visiting and commenting! ^_^ Let me start off with my monthly favorites.
I must have at least one lip balm in every bag. My latest find is the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm! This doesn't actually tint my lips at all, but I love the buttery texture and caramel scent. It also moisturizes my lips for hours on end.
The IN2IT Moisture Intense Lipstick in Pink Alarm is an eye-catching hot pink lipstick with a nice formula. If you like hot pinks, I dare say that this is a must-have - it's just so bright and fun! The price is very affordable too considering the quality you get.
Brush Week: My top five favorite brushes
Brush Week is finally drawing to a close. I think it's only fitting to write about my five favorite brushes, the ones that I never fail to use! I mean, there are a lot of brushes that I rotate quite often, but these five are absolutely indispensable to my routine.
You'll notice that my picks here are mostly inexpensive. I don't feel the need to invest in a lot of expensive brushes since I only apply makeup on myself, and the ones I have here work perfectly. In fact, my favorite powder brush is only P120! Seriously. It's so awesome but unfortunately I can't find it anymore.
Anyway, here's why I LOVE these brushes!
The Large Powder Brush is my favorite foundation brush, hands down. It's super soft and quite large, but I like the size because it really cuts down the amount of time I spend on powder application.
Make Up Factory Light Reflecting Concealer
Light reflecting concealer, what? This type of concealer excels at softening fine lines and lifting up dark eye bags. It is able to do that with shimmer and a feather light coverage - not enough to cover up dark circles, but enough to make them look presentable if they aren't that dark. I prefer to use a light reflecting concealer on a normal day out. I don't think I have super dark eye bags, and in any case pen concealers are fast to work with!
I haven't tried many LRCs, but my favorite is the Clinique Airbrush Concealer. This stuff is awesome! It stays put, never feels heavy, and lightens my under eye area prett well even though it only has light coverage. :) Today I'm going to review something similar yet slightly more affordable - the Make Up Factory Light Reflecting Concealer (P1,180).
Make Up Factory is a German cosmetics brand that you can find in Bonifacio High Street and SM Aura Department Store. Its pricing is just right - not cheap but not overly expensive either. It's a brand that makeup artists will surely enjoy using. ;)
So! The MUF Light Reflecting pen concealer delivers a bit of coverage and shimmer. It's a bit difficult to spread if you're not wearing eye cream, but I do like that it sets completely unlike many cream/liquid concealers.
Commenter of the Month for July and August gift
This August, I will be having not one, but two Commenters of the Month since VMV Hypoallergenics kindly sponsored two sets of prizes for CoM! First things first. Project Vanity's Commenter of the Month for July is none other than Marie/ Apple Watson. She has commented on almost every single post - thoughtful, informative ones - as well as on the Ask Liz! forum. :) Congratulations Marie! Please email me your full name and address.
And now, for the August gift!
The August CoMs will win a set I personally handpicked from VMV. :) If you've been reading this blog then you'll know how much I enjoy using these products. I have here the VMV Hypoallergenics Skintangible (12 grams), Lipstick, ID Monolaurin Gel and Skintensive Facial GC worth P1,500 each. Do click the links to see my reviews of these awesome beautifiers!
You may also follow VMV Hypoallergenics PH on Facebook to be updated with their new releases and promos.
Okay, same mechanics as before! Every month, I'll pick a commenter on my blog. She must be able to leave useful comments, such as sharing feedback about a product I reviewed.
Brush Week: Charm Travel PRO Sonia Makeup Brush Set
This is a common question: "I'm new to makeup, what are the basic brushes I need to buy?" I always recommend just three brushes - a powder, kabuki-type brush that can double as a brush brush, an angled brow brush, and a mid-sized fluffy eyeshadow brush. You can use your fingers for liquid and cream makeup. These three brushes, IMHO, are indispensable.
When you start to feel the need for more precision, that's when you should start purchasing individual brushes or brush sets - not before! Some girls would flat out get a set and then later on think that they got a crappy deal. Thing is, they should have considered first if the brushes in the set are something they would need in their routine. When buying brushes, think of your normal makeup routine first - what kind of makeup do you prefer to wear? What kind of look and products do you want to incorporate in the near future? Then, buy brushes accordingly.
Anyhoo! Today I have here the Charm Travel PRO Sonia Makeup Brush Set (P2,750). This is a special edition set from Charm to celebrate their fifth (going on sixth) anniversary! The case is extra pretty and the matte gold ferrule whispers "luxe".
The brushes inside are the same ones as the current, slightly cheaper iteration of the Charm Travel Pro. I have already reviewed that one with tips on how to use it so I won't go into detail on Sonia. Just enjoy the pictures! ;)