My absolute favorite restaurant is Lugang. Everything is delicious, it's the right price, and the staff are the best! I usually eat lunch there with my mom. Now I already have my favorites, which is what I always order, but a couple of weeks ago I spotted something interesting on the menu - green beans and salted egg! I've never tried anything like it but it sounded yummy in my mind. I went ahead and ordered it.

Oh, it was as good as it sounded, and ridiculously simple too. It was such an unexpected combination but it somehow works! The crunch of the beans, the salty flavor of the chopped eggs - soooo yummy. Here's my version of my new Lugang favorite!

What you need:

About 25-30 pieces of green beans, locally known as baguio beans. Chop em up!

One salted/red egg, chopped also

Hi Ms. Liz! I do Bikram Yoga every day. I make it a point to not wear any sort of makeup whenever I go and practice since I will be sweating a lot and I want my pores to open healthily without gunks of foundation blocking them. But honestly, I feel really awkward with my bare face since I have a LOT of pimple marks that can only be salvaged by foundation and concealer. Can you recommend some good tinted moisturizer that can at least cover pimple marks that is sweat-resistant? Also, can you share some thoughts regarding the use of makeup (at least foundation) during workouts?

P.S Doing yoga every day has actually taught me to let go of any complications and let it be. Sometimes I feel comfortable with my own skin just because I just can "be". But low self-esteem days cannot be helped sometimes :( - Regina

Hi Regina! When I started doing yoga, I went in with zero makeup. I thought that it was too impractical when it'll surely melt anyway. Besides, no one should care what you look like inside a gym or place of practice! I thought that everyone should leave their judgey selves by the door when they enter. I try to.

However, I found that the practice is more enjoyable if I look good in the mirror. Haha. Vain, yes, but I know you know what I mean! So I started wearing a bit of makeup, just the tiniest amount. It made a huge difference. I feel a little more glamorous in the mat, more put-together. Somehow looking good made me challenge myself in poses more. Does that make sense?

Photo grabbed from @noelle_hilario over at Instagram

Also - I totally understand what you mean about letting go of issues when you're at the mat. That's the beauty of yoga! It never hurts to look good while you're enjoying that feeling.

Now, I honestly haven't found foundation or powder that'll last through a whole session of bikram yoga. It's just waaaay to much sweat in such a short time! However, I do know of a few things that can cover up your marks, make your skin look better, and just enhance your natural features. Here they are!

It's Valentine's Day! Some people are crazy about celebrating it (flowers-chocolate-wine-the works), some people are bitter about it, but I am honestly apathetic about it. I've been with the same guy for almost seven years now and it's never been our thing to begin with. I mean, we don't even know when our anniversary is. We don't celebrate that - why celebrate something as random as Valentine's?

But if he gives me a video game today I will not say no to that! Haha. Or shoes. 

Anyway, just wanted to show you what I wore yesterday. What's fun about being a beauty blogger is that I also get to talk about the makeup I wore! I think that a well-dressed person pays attention to details, from hair down to the fragrance. If you're going to make an effort then you better make an effort, you know what I'm saying?

I'm mostly a lazy dresser these days but I always rise up to the occasion, if there is one. 

Dress from Dororthy Perkins | Bag from Rabeanco | Pumps from Ferretti

This dress got lots of compliments yesterday! I want like ten of these in different colors and prints. If you know anyone who can make the same thing, I WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL if you can point me to his/her direction! I want a black, white, navy blue, and purple version to start with haha. The backless cut isn't necessary!

On to the makeup. I didn't want my face to clash with my loud outfit, so I kept everything soft yet defined with peach and brown. This is actually an excellent look to wear to a Valentine's date! Understated yet sexy, the kind where he thinks you're barely wearing any.

Face: Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation, MAC Studio Finish Concealer, Shiseido Spot-Control powder foundation

Philosophy is finally, truly here in Manila! The cosmeceutical skincare and cosmetics brand officially launched its new store last Tuesday, with Global Press Director Robin White to celebrate the opening. Now you can finally have your favorite Philosophy products anytime - no need to order abroad or at Duty Free. ;) 

The new store is located at the 2nd Floor of Mega Fashion Hall (the new wing of Mega Mall). It'll be right across H&M which by the way will open on August. Take a peek!

With Robin White, Philosophy's Global Press Director

I had the chance to sit down with Ms White to talk about Philosophy and random things like, oh, advice she'd give herself if she can go back in time, or things she wish would be invented now. I'll blog about that interview soon, but for now, check out the beautifully appointed store. It's the brand's biggest yet, even including a skin spa called Peel Cabine in the back. 

At Peel Cabine you can avail of gentle facials and peels. Do visit if you love Philosophy's peel products, as they are the brand's best-sellers.

More photos of the store after the jump!

I felt like a bee drawn to honey when I opened the latest package from The Body Shop just the other day. The smell was so intoxicating, so sweet, so yummy - I just had to use the new Honeymania products immediately! This new collection includes the Body Butter, Lip Balm, Soap, Shower Gel, and Eau de Toilette. I suggest you get everything if you like to layer and intensify scents.

The Honeymania fragrance isn't your traditional syrupy honey; it's actually quite floral, since the bee-goop was supposed to be harvested from wildflowers in Ethiopia. The honey is just the base here and not the main note of the fragrance. It's not at all what I expected but I love it!

On to the products. The Honeymania Shower Gel is my top pick because it makes my bathroom smell like a sweet floral paradise. I also like that it lathers easily and thickly, without me having to use too much in one wash. It's also non-drying on my skin even though it's a gel.

Instant bathroom freshener

Last Sunday, the latest lipstick shade from Happy Skin Cosmetics was featured on the front page of The Philippine Star. Have you heard of something like that before, a lipstick being mentioned right above the headline of a national daily? It's such a huge coup for Happy Skin - a local brand, no less!

But what's the fuss about? Kris Aquino, perhaps the most influential lifestyle personality in the Philippines and a cultural icon in her own right, recently collaborated with Happy Skin to create her first ever lipstick shade: The Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me in Valentine Kiss (P549). She was quite involved in the process, swatching different shades of pink and being very specific about the color she wants to have for her limited edition shade.

I was actually surprised that Kris hasn't done something like this earlier considering how much of a beauty fan she is. Apparently, she really loved the formula of Shut Up & Kiss Me and asked the co-founders, Jacqe Yuengtian-Gutierrez and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, to help her make her perfect pink.

So that's how Valentine Kiss came to be. I've already reviewed the formula of Shut Up & Kiss Me, so this post will really be more about the shade and swatch comparisons. Read on! 

Choosing the perfume you wear is an intensely personal process. Your scent hints directly at your mood and state of mind; when everything else you have on is just part of a deliberate, manicured surface, your scent is at the heart of who you are. The fact is not many people will remember your outfit, but they will remember if you smelled particularly good. That's why you must pay attention to your perfume and stick only to those that fit your personality to a tee.

For example, my style is very feminine and put-together, but I also know when to kick back and not take myself too seriously. I try trends, yet stick to reliable classics at the end of the day. That's why I prefer perfumes that are timeless, feminine, and radiant, with a little bit of fun if they can help it. That's why I love scents like the Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline L'Eau de Parfum. 

Since the onset of this insane heat, I've received a few questions about the kind of beauty products one should take to a beach vacation. Sunscreen is, of course, SOP, but you have a little more freedom when it comes to makeup. There are only two things to keep in mind: don't wear a lot, and make sure it will melt beautifully or not at all!

I followed these two rules while I was packing for El Nido a couple of weeks back (was it only two weeks?). Anyway, here's what I brought with me to the beach. You'll notice that I didn't bother with powder, instead going for cream or liquid colors. Why? Because cream/liquid makeup looks more natural, more "one" with your skin. Powder makeup looks off in the beach, since it can look thick, cakey, and overdone in such a casual setting. It's best to go with wet formulas to achieve a chic summer-at-the-beach look!

I packed everything in my Happy Skin brush bag. It's so cool no? I get to take these neatly-packed, travel-sized brushes and fit a whole face of makeup in too. The brushes are handy (my favorite is the flat top, sold separately as it happens), but the bag is really something else. It's compact but roomy, and I love the two-level arrangement for the brushes.

I brought my favorite bases from Shiseido: the Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF43, White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Foundation, and Natural Finish Cream Concealer. Together, they're long-wearing and provide a good amount of coverage + sun protection. I used the Sun Protection foundation while swimming and it stayed on fairly well. I mean, it faded of course, but there were still some left over when I washed my face. It's very water-resistant!

The Fairydrops Platinum Mascara is still the best for extreme humidity, I think. It won't stay on after swimming but it will not fail you under the heat.

I got a hair cut last Friday. I had low expectations since it's not my usual salon, but damn my hair is terrible right now. Am I overreacting? Am I just not used to it? I don't know. It's just, so bad that I laugh when I catch myself in the mirror. I'm not sure if I should blog about it. Well, I will certainly give it some thought. You'll have to see it at some point.

Anyhoo, here's a quick swatch of one of the latest eyeshadows from MAC: the Extra Dimension Eyeshadow in Sweet Heat (P900+). The Magnetic Nude collection, which this color is a part of, came out just last month so it should still be available. ^_^ The Extra Dimension Eyeshadow is a new formulation. It can be used wet or dry, and is designed to stay on the lids for six hours.

I love this eyeshadow. It's a lot like one of my all-time fave MAC colors, All That Glitters, except Sweet Heat is more intense, more metallic. It's a dirty champagne shade, almost light bronze in certain lighting.

If it's your first time to try Shiseido - gosh I hope not though because you're missing out! - anyway, if it's your first time at a counter you must consider getting three things first. That would be a lipstick, a foundation, and a skincare product. I've tested many of the brand's products extensively and these are the things that just stand out. You're not really experiencing Shiseido if you haven't gotten one or all of those three!

Anyway, here is my latest foundation find from the brand: the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Foundation (P1,998 for the refill and P1,500 for the case). It's an ultra-silky, mid-coverage foundation with a matte finish and sun protection. I like it because, as with all the Shiseido foundies I've tried, it gives my skin a radiant, creamy finish even though I'm not wearing a liquid base underneath. You'll see a pic later!

What does it do? This foundation is supposed to whiten skin and help erase blemishes faster (hence the "spot-control" in the name), but perhaps I just haven't used it long enough to see results. Besides, I already use Shiseido Ibuki and have little blemishing left over.

I am not the same person I was last year. I think I'm better at a few things, worse in some other areas of my life. One thing is for sure though: I've lost much of my hubris. I'm not nearly as confident as I used to be, not as sure of my future as I once imagined it. But that's the point, right? Everyone moves on, even from their dreams.

That's not to say that I'm quitting everything I've built for myself - not at all! I'm just saying that I'm trying to do something else on top of what I'm already doing. I've taken a scathing look at myself and realized where my real strengths and weaknesses lie. It hurt to be completely honest to myself but then how else can I move forward? Risk is always frightening, but it's how you know you're getting somewhere other than where you're standing. 

I learned a few things last year while I was 25, and thought of sharing them with you now that I'm 26. :)

Surround yourself with beautiful things. We have gadgets and gizmos always stuffed in front of our faces. These are tiny windows that look out to the big wide world, yes, but why look through a window (exclusively that is)? It's ridiculously easy to live vicariously through other people's experiences and moments of insight, unconsciously thrilling as if they're ours. They're not. Unfortunately.

I suggest that you gentrify and curate your life. That is, uplift it and improve its quality to the best of your ability. It doesn't necesarily have to cost you tons of money but you can start with small things like changing that ratty couch you've had for a decade. Maybe placing fresh flowers on a table. Wearing clothes that are of good make and quality, instead of disposable fast fashion. I'm not saying you can't indulge in lazy living, ever, but you should try to rise above it whenever you get the opportunity.

Beauty can inspire you to be someone worthy of it.

If you have a wardrobe of clothes, you also need a wardrobe of makeup. Okay maybe "need" isn't the right word, but admit it, it's fun to have different colors and formulas to play with! What many don't understand about those who love makeup is that it's not all for the sake of vanity. Collecting and learning about cosmetics is a thrill on its own. Just like with any hobby, we do it because we enjoy it.

Anyway, let's continue Shiseido Week! I have one last post for you tomorrow. Clue: it's about a powder foundation, again! But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's chat about the Shiseido Lumizing Satin Eye Color in BR209 (P2,000+).

I adore bronze and gold on my eyes, so this palette was an obvious choice. It contains three rich eyeshadows - a mid bronze, a yellow gold, and a creamy sandy gold. All colors are pigmented, so much that you won't need a base to make them stand out. Of course, to make they stay on for over four hours, it's still best to use an eyeshadow primer.

Three words: pointed cotton buds. It's one of those ultra useful makeup tools but sadly, they're kinda hard to find! Well let me help you there. Nippon, the maker of disposable applicators and touch up kits (for weddings and other events), has Dual Cotton Tips (P30 for 100 sticks) to help you achieve precise makeup application.

Simple, but awesome. I love to use the pointed top for cleaning up my lip line and eyeliner, while I use the rounded one for buffing away eyeshadow edges when needed. It's also great for smudging eyeliner! You just need to be careful as the pointed end is kinda stiff, but this is otherwise pretty straightforward to use.

You're welcome. ^_^ You can purchase Nippon products online as well as in Suesh outlets. Also, as it happens, Nippon and Studio SnR together with INGLOT and L'Oreal have an upcoming event this February 14. Deets below!

I think I'm over my strong eyebrow phase. I currently prefer softer arches that make my face look less "done", if you know what I mean! I've given up my pens, creams, and even pencils to do my brows, instead relying on powder products to sculpt them to my liking. They're also quicker to work with and require less care when it comes to application.  

That said, my current favorite brow product is the Ellana Mineral Eyebrow/ Eyeshadow Quad (P350). This is technically pressed mineral eyeshadow, but the colors are intended to mix beautifully to create your perfect eyebrow match. Whether you're a brunette, blonde, or redhead, you can get brows close to your current hair color. Oh, and have a neutral everyday eyeshadow palette to boot!

Pigmentation and finish. The colors are pigmented when used as eyeshadow, but softer over eyebrows. Weird no? But it works! I use a large, bushy angled brush (from Ellana also) to apply this on my brows. Perhaps because the brush is synthetic, I'm not getting too much pigmentation from this palette. The finish is a creamy matte that looks totally natural. 

There's this magazine editor who ALWAYS greets me, without fail, everytime we meet each other in functions: "Liz, you're so thin! You lost so much weight!" Every. Single. Time. Even when I've gained weight, or even when I haven't actually lost any. There's also another acquaintance of mine who says the same thing every time we see each other. I'm not sure if they're being sarcastic, but I've given this a lot of thought and have come up with three reasons these people open their interactions with me this way.

1. They're just making idle, safe conversation - in their minds, anyway. Opening a conversation with a compliment is a great way to get things going. I myself do this a lot, but of course I am sincere in my flattery. But I don't just mention ONE compliment every time. I compliment what I like as I see it; I don't have a standard opening line.

2. They want me to also notice that they lost weight, too (even if they haven't). It's subtle prodding for a similar compliment.

I've had my eye out on this the Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation (P2,200) ever since I spotted it in counters last September. It promises to correct the "color noise" of the skin, which I understand to mean discolorations and general imperfections. It's also meant to be sheer - however, it's definitely not what I expected after the initial swatches!

This tiny bottle packs a punch. It has a medium coverage, just enough to even out the skintone and to soften blemishes as well as fine lines. It has a beautiful, dewy finish that intensifies as I oil up. Unsightly? Gross? Not at all! My skin looks very nice even though it's shiny with this foundie - it's like, I have another layer of skin, but better! It's not that much of a hassle for me to retouch every 2-3 hours.

Small bottle, yes, but it contains the standard amount - 30ml. This foundation is said to be equal to the Chanel Vitalumiere.

Waking up early will get you far in life. I think! You'll accomplish more, experience more, rush less. I've been waking up early ever since I can remember and I believe this habit has made my life easier to manage. I understand that some people perform better at night but if you don't, and you're wondering why, maybe you can try waking up at 5 or 6 in the morning. You just might be a morning person in denial!

Anyway, continuing my El Nido posts. This'll be my last since we left pretty early the next day. ^_^ Enjoy! | Day 1

Woke up at the crack of dawn. Saw a completely different seascape outside - low tide.

The definition of peaceful

A dusky blue

Stairs to the sea

Interesting textures

Two worlds apart

It's Shiseido Week once again! This week I'll be talking about my new finds from one of my favorite brands ever. I was able to pull out some of the most interesting items in their store sooo watch out for those features in the next few days! Promise, you'll want to see what I chose for this week. ;) Anyway! I'll kick it off with a lipstick - the Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in Fleur OR341 (P1,250).

I say this over and over again: Shiseido lipsticks are super underrated. This is one of the best lipstick formulas I've tried to date, as they are super pigmented, fairly moisturizing, long-wearing, and comes in beautiful shades. Like Fleur here. This was part of the 2013 Spring Collection but I think it's still as relevant now as it was when it came out.