Haven't you always wondered how orchids can live so long while looking as fresh as the day they first bloomed? Guerlain did. They gathered 30,000 species of orchids to discover their secrets until they found "the one". It's called the Vanda Coerulea, a blue orchid found in China that could live more than 80 years in extreme weather conditions. After ten years of research in three different parts of the world, Guerlain has finally managed to distill the molecular extract of Vanda Coerulea with two other orchids into the Orchidee Imperiale Cream.

The Orchidee Imperiale is Guerlain's flagship anti-aging product which they released just last year. It promises to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and restore the skin's strength and luminosity. Now, I put this to the test for more than two weeks, so I can confidently say this: it's awesome. If you can afford it, go run out and get it. This is the best moisturizer I've tried to date although I will admit that I didn't like it at first.

We were off to a rocky start.

I finally got a copy of this! I heard from a friend two weeks ago that she saw me on BLUSH magazine. I was thrilled, of course!

Kim Chiu on the cover of BLUSH mag's Jan-Feb issue

BLUSH magazine is perhaps the only local magazine that's exclusively focused on beauty. If you love reading beauty blogs and discovering the latest makeup, skincare, or haircare gems, this is the magazine to read. It's only P140 at Fully Booked and National Bookstore (do let me know where else this is available).

Want to get your very own slimming underthings for free? I liked Inches Off so I want to share it to three lucky Project Vanity readers. Here's how to win! Read after the cut to see the full mechanics.

Mechanics

It's not a secret that I am extremely conscious about my weight. I exercise and I try so hard to eat right, but it's an uphill challenge. It's always easier to lie to myself that I won't get fat if I miss one exercise or eat one bag of chips - I keep doing it until suddenly, my waistline is an inch fatter.

While there is no, and I repeat, no better way to lose weight than to eat right and exercise, a girl can always use the help of waist-shapers like girdles and corsets. I am not advocating them as a permanent way of life, but they are pretty useful while you're trying to get a slammin' body (and hopefully a healthy one as well)! One product that I've recently tried is the Inches Off Instant Body Shaper.

I got the High Waist Tummy Flattener Firm Control Panty. I wore it the other day under a thin, jersey dress and I can really see and feel the difference.

I was intrigued by the Pond's Gold Radiance Boosting Cleansing Mousse because it promises to remove makeup while also serving as a facial wash. Who doesn't want to save one step in their routine, right? Also, when Gold Radiance first landed on Philippine shores, this particular product wasn't available because it sold out in other Asian countries. Now if that's not enough to make you curious I don't know what is!

As promised, the product is a foamy mousse that becomes a rich, thick lather when you lightly rub it on your skin. It feels quite soft on my face which makes it enjoyable to use! It does melt off makeup in one wash, but it doesn't remove all kinds of makeup. The mousse removes foundation, blush, concealer, and unprimed eyeshadow, but it does a poor job taking off primed eyeshadow, mascara, and eyeliner (or most eye makeup).

Let's get on the nitty gritty, shall we?

What I love about the product

• Literally melts off powder makeup. Once you get it to a lather, all the junk just comes off.
• A little goes a long way, surprisingly. I use half a pump of the product for each side of my face. The trick is to massage it in small circles.

I was really impressed by the color payoff and texture when I first swatched the Nichido Stardust Eyeshadow in Blue Lagoon (P168) at the mall. I didn't think twice and added it to my cart. When I got home though, I was really dismayed when I re-swatched the newly opened palette. Well, it wasn't a total bust, but it's honestly not something I would use.

So why was there a difference of quality between the tester and the new palette? I read an explanation somewhere that the oils in the fingers of those who swatch makeup tend to mix in with the powder, making it creamier and somehow intensifying its color. I know, gross! But that's how it works. 

The eyeshadow is pretty useless by itself, but over a base like the Urban Decay Primer Potion or the Too Faced Shadow Insurance, it will come out nicely.

Sigrid Villamil, the product manager of Guerlain, once told me how Guerlain perfumes are distinct from each other with their own stories to tell. I completely agree. Shalimar is rich with tradition, the anthem of sophisticated women who never take no for an answer. Herba Fresca is a field of grass dotted by wildflowers, with sunlight streaming in a gentle glow.

And Guerlain Idylle? It's a bouquet of flowers presented to you by a charming gentleman as you walk in a candle-lit room wearing a gorgeous, flowing dress and strappy stilettos. You just met him, and you're excited to get to know him better, drunk with the promise of love. That moment in time is an idyll - a perfect scene, beautiful because you know it will never last.

I find Guerlain Idylle (P2,998) to be a truly versatile fragrance. It's not as heavy and musky as Shalimar nor as light and sharp as Herba Fresca - it's right in the middle, which allows you to wear it during the day or night.

How do you feel about frosty lipsticks? Me, I wasn't a fan. I found them tacky and outdated. But hey, it seems that I haven't been looking in the right places! If the MAC Viva Glam IV lipstick (P1,000) is to be used as a benchmark, MAC frost lipsticks are actually pretty good. In fact, I do think I like them better than the Amplified Creme ones!

MAC frost lipsticks feel lighter on the lips and has a nice, smooth finish. The frost isn't too obvious to begin with - it has more of a luster than the usual frost effect. Like most MAC lipsticks, this has good staying power but it's not as good as, say, Satin or Matte types.

Hello! Here is the list of winners for my Avon contest and my Beauty & Music Giveaway. Are you ready? :D

You know what, it's been ages since I last reviewed eyeliner here! It's just that I'm so happy with my MAC Fluidline and Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil that I've stopped bothering to look for something new. However, when Revlon sent me their ColorStay Liquid Liner in Blackest Black (P550), I just had to try it. I've read really good reviews about it so I put it to the test.

What I love about it

• Solid black line in one go. No need to layer! It creates lovely winged eyes that even Dita Von Teese would envy.
• Characteristic of Revlon's popular ColorStay line, this eyeliner stays on all day with no smudging. It's very reliable in our humid, unpredictable weather.

Peacocky is the latest MAC collection to hit Philippine shores. It's inspired by the gorgeous and fierce colors of one of nature's most magnificent birds. Aside from the unique color story, what's different about this collection is the release of the Mega Metal Eyeshadows (P1,175), a step up the usual MAC eyeshadows when it comes to pigmentation, texture, and even the size of the pan (they're larger). Another new release is the Kissable Lipcolor (P1,150), a gloss-cum-lipstick that will impress you with the pigmentation! It's as good as liquid lipstick and comes in bigger tubes.

I asked MAC if they can demonstrate how to do a Peacocky look, so here's what makeup artist Mikee Raymundo came up with! This look is perfect for evenings out with your friends or when you're going to a special event with a compulsion to wow. Here's a step-by-step photo coverage of the look.

Before: Say hi to Angela!

After

Remember this Shu Uemura palette I picked up last December?

Here's a look I did with it! I find it a bit too cool for my warm skintone, but I think it looks ok. I love the taupe and black eyeshadow in the palette. I really can't get over how creamy and pretty these colors look when applied!

More details after the cut!

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of finally meeting the product manager of Guerlain and Bulgari, Sigrid Villamil. She's a vivacious, beautiful woman who is obviously passionate about the brand. Over delicious food (thanks Sigrid for letting me know about Chelsea's cookie dough cheesecake!), we talked about Guerlain and how it is one of the oldest brands in the industry, representing quality, tradition, and the ultimate luxury when it comes to beauty.

Guerlain was founded in 1898 by Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain in Paris. His perfumes were so popular that he became the perfumer of the royals, first by the King of France, then by Queen Victoria in England, and also by Queen Isabella II of Spain, among others. Some of the Guerlain scents that are part of perfume history are Jicky (recognized as the first modern perfume), Après L'Ondée, Mitsuoko, and Shalimar, the flagship fragrance. Read my review! 

The 183-year old house of Guerlain eventually started producing skincare and makeup, the most famous of which is the Orchidee Imperiale skincare line and the Meteorites. 

Guerlain must-haves: Midnight Secret, L'Or makeup primer, Orchidee Imperiale Cream, Rouge G lipstick, Meteorites, Lingerie De Peau liquid foundation

According to Sigrid, Guerlain believes in beauty - the kind that a woman naturally has and in the things that she uses on herself. Hence, Guerlain products are always in beautiful, luxurious packaging which makes them keepsakes in their own right.

I've read about Mario Badescu years before in magazines, but my curiosity was piqued when Kristine of Temptalia raved about it in 2009. I never got to try it though because I had the impression that MB products are expensive, but that idea is quite off the mark!

On a trip to Rustan's Makati the other day I chanced by the wall of Mario Badescu skincare in the Essences section (near the Glorietta 4 area). I quickly checked the price and saw that the Drying Cream (for drying acne) was only P795. Well, it's not dirt cheap, but it's certainly not expensive.

Eeeeek! The article I wrote for OK! magazine is out! This is the first time I've ever been published on print. I've been featured a couple of times, but I've never actually written anything. OMG.

Okay, okay, I'll calm down. The article is about fragrances - how to pick one that suits your personality, great perfumes to try, and how to properly wear that hard-earned bottle of goodness.