What it is:
A limited-edition blockbuster palette featuring cult-favorite blush and bronzers.

What it does:
Iconic Benefit Cosmetic blushes and bronzers rally together in this cheeky, must-have palette. The all-new GALifornia blush teams up with top players like Hoola bronzer, both original matte and lite, to warm up the complexion. Rock on with a rose-gold flush or baby pink pick-me-up. With five shades to flatter any skin tone, this Cheek Parade is sure to get the good vibes rollin’.

What it includes:
Full-size GALifornia blush (golden pink).
Full-size Hoola Matte Bronzer (natural bronze).
Full-size Hoola Lite Matte Bronzer (natural light bronze).
Full-size Rockateur Box o’ Powder Blush (rose gold with shimmer).
Full-size Dandelion Box o’ Powder Blush (radiant pale pink).
Mini natural-bristle powder brush.

Retail Price: Php 3,400.00 ($58 in the US)

What I like about it....
* value for money. I get five full-sized products for the price of two.
* has beautiful and sturdy packaging
* pretty shade selection
* comes with a free brush
* has a big mirror
* has a really nice citrus scent, not overwhelming
* excellent color payoff
* has a smooth texture and very easy to blend
* did not experience allergies or irritation

What I don't like...
* Some of the shades don't show up well on my NC35 skin tone
* a tiny bit powdery

My rating: 4 out of 5

This was one of the products released by Stila last year for their Holiday Collection which was exclusive for Sephora. I just thought it was perfect since I've been wanting to try their liquid lippies for the longest time. Especially when I came across great reviews of the shade Patina.




Caramello is described as Neutral Nude, Patina is described as Dusty Rose, Como is described as Bright Violet, Aria is described as Magenta Plum, Chianti is described as Deep Plum and lastly Fiery which is described as Deep Red.

What I like about it...
* affordable since it comes with 6 lippies
* comes with a versatile shade range
* has a pretty packaging
* it has a creamy matte texture that is not drying
* feels lightweight which makes it very comfortable to wear
* applies smoothly so it helps with even application
* it does not flake or crack on my lips
* stays for a good 4 to 5 hours on me depending on how much I ate and drink.
* has a nice scent, kinda smells like caramels
* did not experience any allergies or irritation
* easy to find locally, you can find Stila at Rustans

What I don't like...
* The shade Caramello looks too pale on my NC35 skin tone.

My rating: 4 out of 5


Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

I recently had the opportunity to experience the TIGI Bed Head workshop here in Cebu City. It was held at the Expose Salon in Crossroads, Banilad. It was the first time that I joined a workshop related to hair styling, since I honestly don't know much about hair products. (teehee)

I was just in awe seeing Ralf and Andy, teach the hair stylists from all over Philippines, their tips and techniques in cutting, coloring and styling the hair. They worked on several models swiftly yet still precise and the results were just amazing.


Ralf Boss, owns a TIGI Salon in Germany for over 15 years. He became the TIGI Art Director in Germany and soon joined TIGI in 2007. He moved to Taipei to lead the first TIGI International Academy in Asia. He is currently the TIGI Creative Director for Taiwan and Asia Pacific who also leads the Asia Educator Team.

Andy Cheong, has been in the hair industry for over 30 years and has received several awards for hairdressing in Asia. He is currently the TIGI Regional Education Director for TIGI Copyright Colour and closely works with Ralf touring all over Asia.


I saw them both in action and definitely learned a thing or two. The workshop was geared towards hair professionals since it was very technical. It also talked more about the new Shift Collection 2017 using the Tigi Bed Head Colour Trip line.

 
The 2017 Tigi Collection: Shift, shows a changing mood in hairdressing and colouring, embracing natural texture and creating personalized, distinctive styles. Eight new cuts and colours have been created to inspire creation of forward thinking looks for the contemporary client.


The workshop took all morning to finish. Then they showcased all the models they styled and worked on that morning, explaining what the main points were. (It's where I learned, focal point for the hair...lol)


I was fortunate to have the TIGI Bed Head experience. Andy, asked me what color I wanted and I told him something purple so he suggested and mixed the perfect color that he thought suit me. I also left Ralf to decide what hair style would suit me best.

This is the first time I had my hair bleached, and I was surprised that it remained soft and healthy. I was honestly dreading that it would become dry and brittle, but they proved me wrong.


There is one thing, I noticed about TIGI Bed Head products. Everything smells divine, and I mean literally. That even includes the bleach they used on my hair. I honestly did not smell that strong chemical scent you normally get at a local salon. From the bleach, the hair color, to the shampoo, conditioner and the styling products. It all just smells so darn good.

You can head to the Expose Salon, located at Crossroads, Banilad and experience it yourself. You can also buy Tigi Bed Head products at the Salon. For those looking for the Purple Shampoo (used to maintain hair color), they have it! It retails for Php1,800.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

I know this is long overdue. But I just had to share my thoughts on this Becca Champagne Splits Shimmering Skin Perfector Mineral Blush. It has been hyped since the holidays last year (2016) when it was launched with the Becca x Jacklyn Hill collection. I was able to snag one of the shades during the Sephora VIB sale late last year. (thanks to my good friend and fellow beauty enthusiast Mykym for making this possible...hehe) 

I initially wanted the Champagne Pop-Flowerchild variant, but it got sold out so quickly and Champagne Pop-Hyacinth was the only shade available for the Champagne Splits line. And I was like, "oh well, at least I finally got to try the very hyped up Becca Champagne Pop".

There are so many anti-aging tips and tricks out there that you sometimes get tired of all of them and give upon looking for something more useful and productive. One thing however is clear; in order to avoid early wrinkles on your skin you must first of all moisturize it every single day. You can also use the best night cream for wrinkles. That is to say, make moisturizing your number one skincare routine whether you have normal, dry, oily or problematic skin. There are specific anti-aging skincare routines for everyone. Find yours and enjoy!

Moisturizing Against Aging
So, as for the moisturizing, women divide into two groups; those who prefer using natural DIY techniques and those who buy special products from cosmetic shops or recommended by their dermatologist. Whatever you choose the most important thing is the result. If the chosen technique really works then continue using it. If it won’t show at least a little change after a month then give up using it. The first positive result should be the shine on your face. The second one is the fact that wrinkles start to disappear gradually and finally, the third huge change must be the tone of your skin; it is supposed to be monotone and fresh.

The best anti-ageing secrets are generally those that come from old times but innovative techniques and hacks also allow us to get elastic, smooth and wrinkle-free skin. While the majority of celebrities opt for a variety of ways and spend lots of money on plastic surgeries and cosmetic products to look younger, some women look gorgeous without any additional change even after 50’s.

So, what’s the secret? The secret however is the genetic factor but the right skincare routine also plays a great role. It’s a proven fact that women who use natural products and homemade masks get what they want. Although, this doesn’t mean that everything depends on the marks you use.

Asian women, for example opt for lots of hydrating and moisturizing creams and face oils along with massages to keep their skin so youthful and fresh. In fact, they sparkle with their flawless skin and differ from the rest of women with their capturing beauty. Thus, use as much natural face oils as possible to moisturize your skin and try to accompany it with the right face massages that boost elasticity.


Does Moisturizing Prevent Wrinkles ?
Wrinkles, as we know are a natural and unavoidable part of getting older. It becomes thinner, drier and loses its elasticity as it starts aging. Your lifestyle plays a great role in the health of your skin as medical news proves that everyday habits can bring to early aging and wrinkling. Smoking, dehydration, heavy drinking and sun damage from UV rays are the basic factors that make wrinkles develop.

First, it’s recommended to give up on bad habits if you want to get rid of wrinkles. Second, you must use moisturizing products in your everyday skincare routine. Third, avoid too much use of heavy makeup and even in the case of its usage; never forget to remove it before bedtime. If you keep up these 3 basic steps you will assure that they prevent wrinkles.

I haven't posted anything fragrance related for some time now since I've been trying to finish my current perfume bottles. From the 6 bottles I had on hand, I used up 3 bottles already. So, I decided to get myself my first bottle of Jo Malone London Cologne.

I've heard so many good things about this fragrance and finally got the Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey. First off, let me just say that I really love the packaging. It's so simple yet so elegant at the same time. It's pretty straight forward, clean and no fuss. I typically don't go for these type of scents, since the smell can sometimes be too overwhelming or can be weird. Thus, I picked up this variant since it was the most light scented among the Jo Malone bunch.


London's Covent Garden early morning market. Succulent nectarine, peach and cassis and delicate spring flowers melt into the note of acacia honey. Sweet and delightfully playful.

Top Note: Cassis
Intensely juicy and ripe, it gives a crisp edge to the fragrance.

Heart Note: Acacia Honey
This deliciously honeyed note suffuses the scent with its smooth, sweet accents of beeswax and blossoms.

Base Note: Peach
A lusciously, juicy note, succulent with textural velvety softness.



At first I didn't really liked this scent, it took a lot of getting used to since it is quite uncommon. Especially for something that can be described as Fruity Floral. In my opinion, it first comes off as a fresh, almost green, earthy scent then goes on slightly fruity after a few minutes. Some expressed that it's too simple and linear but I thought otherwise.

My only complaint about this scent is it only lasts for about 4 hours on me. So, the longevity isn't that good compared to my other fragrances. But that's probably normal since this is a Cologne and not a Perfume. (Perfume bottles are oil based, thus have excellent longevity on my skin)

Overall, I'd rate this 3 out of 5 stars.  It's quite pricey for what it is, considering it is a cologne and not a perfume. But I have to give it to Jo Malone in terms of packaging, this bottle will definitely turn heads when you put it in your vanity.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Happy Tuesday ladies! I'm back with a review and it's from Laura Mercier again. (I really just fell in love with this Brand, thus explains why I always feature their products...hehe) Anyway, I passed by the Rustan's beauty section in Ayala Center Cebu last month and saw that the Laura Mercier Candleglow Makeup Collection was already available.

I first noticed the sales lady's skin, it had a beautiful glow to it, so I asked her what she wore and she said it was the Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder. I immediately asked her to match the right shade for me. (and the rest was history...LOL)


I have been wanting to try the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder for some time now, but I just think it looks like a normal sheer powder, thus I never bought it. Then I read that this was compared to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder as well, but that one was too expensive.

However, when I saw this candleglow powder, I thought to myself, it was too pretty to ignore. It came in this really chic and elegant compact with a dome shape top and a decent sized mirror. The packaging looks and feels really sturdy like it's made of high quality material which made me decide to get this powder without second thoughts.

Shopping from the US just got easier with myMallBox! What is myMallBox? It is a package forwarding company that helps ship American products to international users.

I first discovered myMallBox around mid February 2017, since they sent me an invitation email to try out their service. I then checked their website to see what it was about and how it works. I tried a similar service before, but I was just not too happy about it, that's why I didn't bother looking for another alternative. myMallBox team gave me some credits to my account, just so I can try out their service and so I did.

Since I initially just wanted to try out their service, I did not go crazy with my purchase. I wanted to get a feel of how they process things and to my surprise, it was fairly easy and hassle free.

I went ahead and proceed with signing up on the myMallBox website. Once done I received an email asking me to verify my email address. Along with that email was my very own US mailing address. I then went ahead and visited the Shop Miss A website where I bought makeup tools. I then checked out and just entered the US mailing address that myMallBox provided me. After a week, I received a notification from myMallbox that they received my package from Miss A.


Once the items arrived at the myMallBox warehouse, I logged in to my account and checked the items under "My Packages" tab. I then changed the declared amount for each item (which I am able to, it's super cool!). I am then given two options, whether to choose Consolidate or Repack my items.

Consolidation is combining multiple packages in to one box, so you can ship your items together and save money. Repacking is packing your items from one single package into a smaller box or bubble mailer. This may reduce shipping costs if the original box is too large for the product it contains.

Since I only had one package, I chose to repack. I waited for about a day or two then logged back in to my account and found that my orders have been repacked. I then proceed with checkout, there is an option whether to choose DHL or USPS, I went ahead and chose DHL and paid $31 via paypal.

On March 9, 2017 I received an email notification together with my DHL Expresse Package Tracking number from myMallBox that my package is on its way. On March 13, my package was delivered at my doorstep. There were no extra charges or fees which is awesome!


Overall, my experience was fantastic and I am truly impressed with their service. It's definitely, easy, hassle free, and a lot cheaper compared to other package forwarding companies. Also, I'd like to note that your packages can stay as long as 90 days on their warehouse, so you will definitely have enough time to consolidate your packages if you plan on buying from different websites.

So if you are interested in buying products from the US and would like to try the myMallBox service, you can use my referral link HERE and get $5 credited to your account once you sign up.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

How to make your face makeup look flawless? is the question I get asked very so often by my friends and colleagues. So, I finally had time to share with you my favorite products to use to achieve a natural looking, flawless face makeup.

But first, let me tell you that having great skin is the key to a flawless looking makeup. I have been taking care of my skin which made it easier for me to find makeup products the work well for my combination skin type.

I first discovered Laura Mercier products a couple of years ago (2015) when a fellow beauty addict posted on Instagram saying how much she loved the Laura Mercier Foundation. And it was perfect timing that I was looking for a lightweight liquid foundation with light to medium coverage. So, I went to the Rustan's Beauty Section in Ayala Center Cebu and bought my very first product from Laura Mercier. Then the rest was history...


Step 1 After my regular skin care routine, I first apply the Laura Mercier Primer. I just use a pea sized amount then pat it all over my face focusing on the T-Zone area.

It's their regular foundation primer as shown in the photo above. I really love this Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, because it has a watery gel-like texture that gets absorbed on my skin easily. In addition to that, it is mild and it hydrates my skin, making my skin look smooth. I would recommend this primer for those with Dry to Combination Skin. If you are looking for a silicone based primer, then this is not for you.


Step 2 I then apply the Laura Mercier Foundation, I chose the Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide liquid foundation in the shade DUSK (I am in the shade NC35 for MAC). I prefer to apply this foundation with my fingers rather than a brush or sponge since it looks more even and smooth that way.

So far, this Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluid is my favorite liquid foundation to date. Despite being very lightweight and thin in texture, a little goes a long way with this foundation since it has excellent coverage. Which is the reason why I seldom use a concealer when I use this foundation. It dries to velvety matte finish, that sometimes I don't even set it with a powder anymore. It lasts the whole day on me especially if paired with the primer. I also noticed that the longer it stays, the more it blends on my skin.


Step 3 I then set the T-Zone area of my face with a little bit of powder. I use the Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder in 05. I just dust a bit of powder in the center part of my forehead, above my eyebrows, under-eye area, sides of my nose then my chin.

What I love about this powder is it's oil control. It really keeps the oil at bay especially in the T-Zone area of my face. It lasts long that I only ever need to retouch once or twice throughout the day. Also, the powder is very finely milled, making it feel really soft and smooth. The packaging is really sleek and elegant. I also like that it has it's own compartment for the sponge. The only downside to this powder is the amount of product is contains. Which is very little compared to my Mac powder.


Step 4 Lastly, I just add a little bit of highlight using the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight - 01. I just apply it on the high points of my face, on my cheek bone area, center of my nose and on my upper lip using my Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush.

This is my favorite Highlighter to date. I love that this gives me that natural looking highlight. Nothing too stark, just an effect of a healthy glowing skin. The glow lasts for about 4 hours on me before it starts to fade. But the glow is still noticeable at the end of the day. It has a really fine texture making it very easy to apply and blend, giving me a really smooth finish. It also comes in a sleek compact with mirror, which is a big plus for me.


Here is a photo of me wearing all the Laura Mercier products mentioned above. This pretty much sums everything up where Face Bases is concerned.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Hey ladies! after a month of being MIA (missing in action), I finally had time to sit on my computer and take care of this blog.  I really missed all of you and blogsphere. It just has been a really hectic February for me. Anyway, I'm back and hopefully I can post more regularly.

My friend went to Hong Kong around mid November last year (2016). I asked her to bring my Mac empties on her trip and have it exchanged for a mac lipstick in any MAC store she can find there. This is for the Back-to-Mac Program. Since we don't have a Back-to-Mac here in Philippines, I had to ask this favor to whoever is going abroad.

M·A·C accepts returns of its primary packaging through the Back-to-M·A·C Program. By returning six [6] M·A·C primary packaging containers to a M·A·C counter or M·A·C Cosmetics online, you’ll receive a free M·A·C lipstick of your choice as our thanks to you. Please note, Lipsticks provided at no charge cannot be returned or exchanged. M·A·C Select Back-to-M·A·C Expanded is only available in stores at this time. (Info taken from the Mac website)


Mac Lipstick in Mocha is described as Peachy yellow-brown shade. It comes in a Satin finish, which means it is Semi-matte with a hint of sheen to it. I particularly chose this shade because it looks great on medium skin tone.


This Mac Mocha Lipstics has been my everyday go-to lipstick since this shade just look great on my skin tone. It's a really great option for those with olive skin tone as well.


Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Hey ladies, here's another round up review for you.  This time it is for concealers that I've been using in 2016. It is a mix of drugstore and high-end concealers for my under eye, occasional acne spots and as a highlight in some areas on my face.

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer in Light. It comes with concealers in three different shades and one powder. I normally use this concealer to hide spots on my face and to cleanup my brows. It has excellent pigmentation, lightweight, creamy, and really smooth to apply. I also love to use the powder in this palette (bottom right) to set my under eye area. It's a versatile palette but not ideal for covering dark circles. It is more effective for covering imperfections on the face. You can view my in-depth review HERE.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger. This is the most expensive concealer I ever bought. I keep seeing all the beauty enthusiast rave about this product on social media sites, thus I caved and got myself one. And true enough, this lived up to the hype. A little goes a long way with this product since it is the most pigmented liquid concealer I have ever used. It has a very creamy texture, applies smoothly, excellent coverage, easy to blend, does not sit on fine lines and stays all day especially if set correctly with a powder.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Medium. I bought this around November of 2016 because some bloggers mentioned that this was a good alternative for the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. When I tried this out for the first time, I noticed how easily it blended well on my skin. But it is in no way similar to the formulation of Nars. The Maybelline Fit Me Concealer has a much thinner texture and lesser coverage compared to Nars. I just liked this concealer because it blended really easily on my skin plus it is really affordable.


Here is a swatch between the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Medium VS Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger. If you notice, the Maybelline concealer has a bit more pink undertone to it while Nars has more yellow. When blended, you will definitely notice that Nars has superior coverage, does not settle on fine lines and dries into a matte finish, while the Maybelline has a thinner texture, less coverage and dries into a semi-matte finish.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Light. This variant is not available here in the Philippines, so I asked a friend to buy it for me in the US. I picked the wrong shade. I should have gone with Neutral but I still made it work for me. Since I use it to highlight certain areas of my face. This works as a really great under eye concealer and it really does what it is supposed to do.

I will be trying more concealers in the future but I will have to finish up these tubes before I buy new ones. However, I am definitely eyeing on the Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer, since it has been raved by beauty gurus on Youtube.

Do let me know what your favorite concealers are.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Hey Hey Hey Happy New Year ladies! I've missed you all. I was on Holiday break for the last couple of months, thus explains why I have been MIA (missing in action).

I cleaned up my room and de-stashed some of my beauty products. And realized that I have already finished a lot of products. Thus explains this post. I won't blabber anymore and just get on with it.

First up are the perfumes. I am not sure if you guys are aware, that I am really into Fragrances and Perfumes as well. I even posted the perfumes that I used last 2016, you can check it HERE. I wanted to finish some perfume bottles before I purchase new ones, so I made sure to do just that.

Lavin Eclat D'Arpege (top left on the photo). This was gifted to me by my husband. I really love this scent since it is very light. Even those with sensitive nose would love how light this scent is. The main notes are green lilac and Sicilian lemon leaves which transports us to the first day of spring. A wisteria blossom that blooms at perfume’s heart, accentuated by lush peach blossom and sensual red peony. Airy green tea leaves are refreshing. The base notes are white cedar of Lebanon, gentle musk and precious amber.

Scuderia Ferrari Light Essence (top right on photo). Gifted from hubby as well. This perfume is actually for men and women. So the hubs really like this scent as well. Top notes are lime, ginger and white tea. The middle notes are peach blossom, rose and sea notes. Base notes are cedar, musk and white wood. Too bad though, this scent only lasts about 2 to 3 hours on me.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh (on the left side of photo). This scent is one of the Floral Fruity fragrances that I really liked. Plus, the bottle is just really pretty. Top notes are grapefruit, green notes, raspberry and pear. Middle notes are jasmine, rose, violet, litchi and apple blossom. Base notes are musk, Virginia cedar and plum. (info source for the scents are from Fragrantica)

Next are the empties from my night skin care routine. I haven't even shared with you guys my night time skin care routine hehehe, but I plan to do that soon too.

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Lip Balm in Pineapple Quench. It was gifted by my Besty and it is what I have been using every night for the first two quarters of 2016 before I switched to another lip balm.

Mac Cleanse Off Oil. It actually took me a while to finish this travel sized cleanse off oil from MAC, since I only use it when I wear heavy makeup or when I wear a lot of waterproof eye makeup. It really does the job and cleans very well.

Nivea Creme. This is the classic Nivea moisturizing cream that has been around for years. And I only started using it last year through a recommendation by my Besty. My skin started to feel a bit more dry than it used to and this moisturizer really helped my skin look healthy again.

Then here are some of my makeup empties. I really did try to finish or hit pan on my makeup as much as possible, so they don't go to waste. I forgot to include the Mascara tubes I finished in the photo above but here they are.


This is the photo from my Mascara Round Up post and I am happy to announce that I already used up all of them. Yas!!!

The Face Shop Design My Eyebrow pencil. I used two different shades since I had colored hair before. These are my favorite eyebrow pencils as well. They are affordable and very convenient to use. It applies smoothly and makes my brows look natural. It now has a new packaging but still with the same formulation. (the one on photo was still in the old packaging)

Etude House Play 101 Pencil in No. 1. This is a Matte Black gel eyeliner pencil which became my go-to everyday eyeliner product. It applies smoothly and stays on for around 5 hours before it starts to fade or smudge on me.

Mac Amplified Lipstick in Craving. This my most used everyday lipstick. I always carry this in my makeup bag since the color is something that I can wear all day in any occasion. It applies smoothly, has excellent pigmentation and lasts for about 4 hours on my lips, before I reapply again. It looks a bit shiny on first application, then sets to a semi-matte finish after a few minutes.


This is how the Mac Craving lipstick looks on me. I just added a little bit of Mac Lipglass in Love Child on the middle of my lips in this photo.

Again, Happy New Year guys!

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***