I have raved about the NYX Lipstick in Spellbound before, one that was sent by my sister. It was a lovely hot pink color, one that I use whenever I feel frumpy, that I got intrigued with the other colors so I tried to purchase one online. However, all of the colors I wanted were sold out and the only one left was this tube of Miracle (LSS 642). I thought it had an interesting name, so the color might be good and impulsively without reading reviews, I purchased one.

From their site:

Round Lipstick is our classic lipstick for all-year round. The mineralbased emollient formula offers a beautiful velvet texture, saturated color and it resists wear and smudging. It’s your go-to lipstick. From Pure Nude to Pink Lyric to Chic Red, Round Lipstick is available in a jaw-dropping 126 shades. Net weight 4 grams/0.14 oz.

This lipstick comes in a simple black tube with its bottom part being transparent wherein one can see the actual color of the lipstick, which is very helpful as you sort through your stash of lipsticks.

When I bought this lipstick, since it was an impulse buy, I know at the back of my mind that it would be a difficult shade to pull off as sometimes, coral shades would be a hit and miss for me, but my urge to buy an NYX lipstick over ruled that thought. It is an orangey-coral shade with tiny gold flecks to it. The color is bright and very eye catching. It can brighten the face and make you look alive, but because of its gold flecks, I find it quite distracting as the sheen is very noticeable on my lips. I tone it down by blotting it off with a tissue to make it wearable for me. It is very pigmented and one swipe is all I need. If applied too thickly, it can slide on to the teeth, so one has to be careful with over application. Best to apply with a lip brush. It lasts 2-3 hours on me and leaves a stain on the lips as the color wears off, which can look weird I guess. No need to apply a lip gloss as it is very shimmery enough on my lips.

As most NYX Round Lipsticks, it has a very rich, smooth, creamy texture when applied to the lips. For me, I do not see a need to apply a lip balm as it hydrates and moisturizes the lips as well. While for some who does not like any scents on their cosmetics, I however, like the scent it gives off, which is not really cloying but gradually wears off.

What I love about NYX Round Lipstick in Miracle:

• An affordable brand with good quality product. I got it for 150 pesos exclusive of shipping, not bad at all.
• Very soft texture and glides easily.
• Very pigmented.
• Pleasant and lightly scented.
• Hypoallergenic and cruelty-free product.

What I do not like about NYX Round Lipstick in Miracle:

• This shade would have been great if not for the gold shimmers, which was noticeable on me.

So all in all, I like that it is a great product at an affordable price. The only downside was the gold sheen. Had I seen the shimmer and gold flecks on swatches I found online, I would not have purchased this. Difficult to pull off shade for me because of the shimmers. Next time, I would try to read and research for the shades before buying online so that I would not have a product that would just sit in my drawer, but I will purchase NYX lipsticks again in a different shade.

The beach is my happy place,

-Kitty-

The post NYX Round Lipstick in Miracle Review appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.

I’ve explored 4U2 makeup a lot last year. With my purchases, I was able to get some items almost for free. Almost! I paid P1 for a 4U2 Flash Nail Art. I made a review about their Bling set. Now, it’s Bloom’s time to shine.

The 4U2 Flash Nail Art is a set of three nail polishes in complementing colors. You can use them as regular polish or on top of each other or with any other polishes you have whenever you are feeling extra creative. 4U2 has 2 variants for their nail polish set, the Bling which I reviewed already which consists of edgy, flashy colors. The Bloom set, which is in the spotlight right now, contains pinks and girly nail polish colors.

The nail polish bottle is unique. Its cap is of the same size as that of the bottle itself. Although the cap is stubby, I find it easy to grip and glide over my nails. The brush is a little shorter than other nail polishes I have. It is a bit flatter and wider than that of Bobbie’s. This kind of brush makes it easy for me to apply polish. I prefer shorter brushes.

1st bottle: Peachy Pink, Coral-ish Color leaning on the neon/bright side.

I find the Bloom nail polish set opaque on nails too but not as opaque as Bling. One coat can give opaque color on nails but I feel the need for two to three coats to show the color you see on the nail polish bottle. These nail polishes seem to lose their shine a bit the next day if worn without a top coat. I also noticed that they show better color and shine with base coat underneath. 4U2 nail polishes seem not to work well with Caronia, Bobbie and Sansan clear coats. I always see scratches and dents the next day of application. But they work well with my Etude House Top Coat. With top coats, 4U2 Flash Nail Art Bloom lasts longer for few days more and are shinier too. I wait 2 to 3 minutes between coats which is okay for me. Etude House nail polishes dry faster than these.

2nd bottle: Light Pink with white pink shimmers

On the 4U2 Flash Nail Art label:

Fabulous set of 3 Unique Colors for flashy nails! Long wearing formula- strengthens and hardens nails as well. For application in a flash!

Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Tosylamide/ Formaldehyde Resin, Butyl Alcohol, Propyl Acetate, Camphor, Strearalkonium Bentonite, Stearalkoniu Hectorite.

3rd bottle: Nude

4U2 Flash Nail Art- Bloom – What I Like:

• The color selection is girly which I can wear more often than Bling.
• The consistency is okay. Not runny, nor goopy.
• A little short but still opaque on nails.
• Last several days.
• Big 3-Free. It has formaldehyde resin and I read on cosmeticsinfo.org that this has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel and concluded that Tosylamide/ Formaldehyde Resin are safe as a cosmetic ingredients.
• It is affordable for P214 per set.
• I got mine for P1 only for P800 worth of purchase.

4U2 Flash Nail Art- Bloom – What I Like:

• Like Bling, the Bloom set has the strongest smelling nail polishes I ever had.
• My 3 year old boy can open the bottle no matter how tightly you close them!
• 4U2 only has two sets available for their Flash Nail Art.
• Didn’t work well with most of my clear coats.

Final thoughts:

I recommend the 4U2 Flash Nail Art Bloom set to ladies looking for affordable girly nails polish set which is unique from what we commonly find in popular brands belonging to lower price range. =) Happy nail painting ladies!

Always wear beauty,

Val

The post 4U2 Flash Nail Art- Bloom Review appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Last Sunday me and my family were 30-minutes behind the 10AM church’s service. I had to fix myself then in a hurry because the church is a 30-45 minute drive away from home. Usually, I don’t go out of the house without blow-drying my suuuper wavy hair. But because of too much hurrying and lack of grace under time pressure, I forgot where I had kept my roller brush and just opt to a regular comb instead.

I noticed that my hair turned out differently from what it’s supposed to be when I’m using a brush. It looked like I didn’t blow dry it at all! My hair’s a total mess! Funny, but my hair wore a just-got-out-of-bed hairstyle then!

That made me realized that I used the wrong tool. And from there, it inspired me to write this article about brushes and combs. Indeed, there’s still beauty in every ugly situations, right?

We see and use brushes and combs everyday, I’m sure in every home there’s at least a pair of comb and a hairbrush, but did you know that each kind has a purpose and some serves a particular type of hair?

Let’s start our alphabet with the letter C for comb! (:

A comb “is a toothed device used for styling, cleaning and managing hair and scalp” (source: Wikipedia).

Aside from styling, we can also depend on combs in portioning and detangling our hair. Combs as well, provide assistance for our dear stylists and haircutters in trimming our tresses to capture our preferred hairstyles.

Types of combs (see first picture):

1. Rat-tail: A standard rat-tail comb measures from 8 to 10 inches in length. It is known for being accurate in sectioning the hair, hence, the comb was designed with very fine and closely apart teeth while the pointed end’s like that of a straightened rat’s tail, intended for pulling sections of hair. This tool is also essential for putting hair extensions and performing chemical treatments.
2. Wide-tooth: Wide-tooth comb is used for detangling hair after bath or shower that’s why the teeth are designed well apart. It helps avoid hair breakage and serves all types and textures of hair.
3. Teasing: Big hair or teased hair originated during the 50’s era. This iconic hairstyle was made famous by tons of hairsprays and the ever dependable, teasing comb! Its teeth are so close to each other, perfect for creating volumes in the hair. Some teasing combs have pointed tips and some, have teeth as well. The ends of this comb can be used to pick up streaks of hair precisely.
4. Regular Comb: The regular comb has teeth that are not so wide nor near apart each other. Somewhat in the middle between the wide-tooth and the rat-tail. This is used to detangle locks before and after shower. This kind of comb is ideal for straight and wavy hair.
5. Picks: Picks Comb is great for styling! Especially lifting the hair away from the head. Similar to the teasing comb, picks can also help in adding volume to hair.

Reminders:

• Always use a clean comb and keep it in a clean storage after.
• Clean your combs every week. Don’t forget to soak them in a mug with a mixture of warm water and shampoo. Vinegar mixed with lemon (or calamansi) are good cleaning agents too.
• Use combs before and after shower. Don’t use brushes.
• Go for combs with soft edges to avoid hurting your scalp
• Choose quality over quantity. Buy combs that are strong, avoid those that are breakable or can easily bend.
• Pick the right comb according to your hair type and texture.

A brush is a grooming tool made of either soft or hard bristles and comes with a stick or a handle. Aside from grooming and styling, brushes can help make our hair shiny by distributing the oil evenly on the scalp to all the parts of the hair.

Types of brushes:

1. Roller: This type is commonly used in blow drying. Mostly made up of nylon bristles and a round metal plate. The metal plate heats up when the blow dryer blows hot air at the brush. The heat makes curling and drying easier.
2. Vent: “For maximum air flow, vent hairbrushes are used to create root lift and volume for your hair and to give some direction and movement like flicking out the ends of your hair. Not a precision brush but it is a great hairbrush for easing out tangles on medium to thick hair and men’s or children’s short simple styles or to give a little more height and lift to a style that you might normally dry with your fingers.” (source: i-glamour.com).
3. Paddle: A wide flat brush used in flattening, straightening, and grooming long tresses. It’s good for all hair types and in massaging the scalp. It doesn’t detangle nor volumize.
4. Military: This type of brush is commonly handless and used by men. Ideal for all hair types and textures.
5. Wire: Wire hair brush has a thick and hard bristles that would hurt the scalp. This is ideal for people with thick or curly hair. Be extra cautious when using this tool with straight and thin hair.

Reminders:

• Always use a clean brush and keep it in a clean storage after
• Choose the right brush according to your hair type and style you want to make.
• Use warm water and shampoo in cleaning your brushes. Do it weekly.
• In detangling, use a comb. Not a brush.
• Each brush gives a different style to every different types and length of hair.
• In blow drying, don’t forget to use heat protective products to avoid damaging your hair and scalp.

The post Types of Combs & Brushes – What to Use appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Brush cleaners are heaven sent in terms of speedy brush cleaning. Working girls, mommies and any other makeup enthusiasts should have one. I for instance am always too lazy to do the weekly ritual of deep cleaning the brushes that’s why I make sure that a brush cleaner is always beside me to do spot cleaning.

Sephora brush cleaner product information:

An anti-bacterial daily brush cleaner designed to quickly remove traces of makeup between applications. Just spray this purifying formula onto a tissue or directly onto brush bristles, then lightly swipe your powder, blush, eye, and lip brushes across tissue for a fabulous dose of freshness. No rinsing needed!

Suggested Usage:

• Spray three-to-four spritzes of cleaner over brush bristles.
• Gently wipe brush onto a lint-free cloth to remove makeup.
• Let brush air dry—no need to rinse.
• For best results, use the Sephora Purifying Brush Shampoo once a week for deep cleansing

I bought this during my month stay with my cousins. Being the “ate” (term for older sisters/cousins) and a contributor to FMBB, I should set an example in maintaining germ-free makeup and brushes.

This cleaner is available in two sizes,60 ml and 200ml. Price ranging from $6 USD – $14 USD (approxPhp250 – 560). Pretty expensive I should say, because I have seen and used brush cleaners for a cheap price of Php 150 for a 100ml bottle.

Packaging on the website is very different to the one that I have. I am not a fan of the latter as I like the beauty of the one posted on the website. But nonetheless, it is still usable.

To use this, I spray three to four times on powder brushes and brush them lightly on a paper towel. One spritz is enough for shadow brushes while the liner brushes (one I use for gel liners) needs 2. Usually, a set of spritz is enough for the brushes, but there were times that I need to repeat it again (up to 3 sets) to completely remove the residue of the makeup (I.e. foundation or the gel liner or cream blush).

Unclean brush

Cleaned brush

I love how it works great on all the brushes regardless if it’s synthetic or natural bristles. It has a great sweet smell with a hint of alcohol to it. Be careful though if you have a very sensitive nose because it can be too overpowering at times.

The downside of this cleanser that bothers me a little is the flame sign on the bottle. Yes, this product is flammable. It scares me a little because I have a little toddler that is starting to be curious about mommy’s things. Of course I will not leave it within his reach but sometimes, accidents do happen.

SEPHORA BRUSH CLEANER REVIEW PROS:

• Cleans all my brushes…synthetic and natural hairs.
• Smells good
• Available in two sizes one for travelling and a big for home use.
• Cleans all the stubborn dirt even gel liners.
• It has antibacterial properties to kill all the germs
• Great for everyday use
• 60 ml bottle may last more than a month or two depending on how many brushes you clean everyday.

SEPHORA BRUSH CLEANER CONS

• The 60 ml bottle is a bit expensive
• The smell can be overpowering for some
• Not available locally

Overall:

I bought this on an impulse and didn’t regret buying. It has helped me maintain my brushes germ free and clean after play time. The scent, use, the travel friendly bottle, add to it the anti-bacterial property are reasons enough to make it for keeps in any makeup junkies’ traincase. Will I repurchase? Yes, this handy dandy brush will be in my list from now on.

The post Sephora Brush Cleaner Review appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.

I have an ongoing project to finish first all stocked cosmetics (does not include makeup huh, hehe.) in my closet before buying a new one. I am doing this to save money and to free some space as well. Extra space will surely give a lot of convenience to me. I have accumulated few stuffs over the months, not because I buy a lot, I am thrifty. Most of them were given to me, like this Loreal Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Conditioner.

My best friend visits me yearly. She stayed here in our house for a week last year. I always let her use my shampoo, conditioner, lotion and so on because I want her to travel light. But before she leaves, she always insists in replacing what she has used with new items! My best friend told me that she couldn’t find the Elseve conditioner which we both enjoyed using five years ago, so she bought something similar to it, the Loreal Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Conditioner.

It comes in orange squeeze tube. It has 80 ml of product in it which lasted me more than a week. This Loreal Conditioner claims to have Argan Oil which is known to nourish hair well so I am excited to try this soon after I finished Tresemme Conditioner. By the way, Argan Oil is widely used as hair treatment. It is known to treat dry scalp and help induce hair growth.

The conditioner itself is pale yellow in color and is really creamy. I find it easy to spread all over my hair and easy to rinse off too. What I like most about this conditioner is the scent. To me, it is the grown-up version of Johnson’s baby shampoo. It smells so clean and it lasts the whole day.

On the Loreal Smooth Intense Anti- Frizz Conditioner label:

Hair 4x smoother
42H Anti Frizz
Your hair is silky, soft and manageable.

Loreal Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Conditioner – What I Like:

• It has a mild, fresh scent to it. This is one of my favorite scents for a hair product.
• This does not leave residue on the scalp.
• This does not cause me pimples along my hair line which I often experience with a lot of conditioners.
• I did not experience increased hair fall.
• I can run my fingers smoothly though my hair. It is so soft to touch too.
• I have wavy hair but this was able to make it a little straighter while not weighing it down.
• It makes my hair manageable.
• My hair looks shiny while I am using this conditioner. =)
• It is affordable.

Loreal Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Conditioner – What I Don’t Like:

• This gives more volume to my hair. This can be a “thumbs up” to some but not for me since I wish to minimize my hair volume or thickness. My hair is uber thick! Hehe.

I am happy with my experience with Loreal Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Conditioner. I like how it makes my hair soft, smooth and manageable. Although I find Tresemme and Fanny Serrano to give me better results for the thick and wavy hair I have, I see myself repurchasing this since this works super well too and this has my favorite shampoo/conditioner scent! =)

Always wear beauty,

Val

The post Loreal Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Conditioner Review appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.

MAC’s Please Me Lipstick was actually one of the many things that I’ve wanted to buy since 2011. I’ve recently read my wish list for the past two years and found out that I’ve been wanting this lipstick ever since. Naturally, I thought that after two years of waiting to lay my hands on this shade, maybe it’s time to finally grab it. I took my chance and bought it online.

Product description:

MAC Cosmetics website describes this shade as “muted-rosy-tinted pink”. It’s sold at $15.00 in the U.S. but in the Philippines it’s worth a thousand pesos.

Ingredients:

OCTYLDODECANOL, RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, SILICA, TRICAPRYLYL CITRATE, OZOKERITE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, PARAFFIN, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX \ CERA MICROCRISTALLINA \ CIRE MICROCRISTALLINE, ETHYL HEXYL PALMITATE, CAPRYLIC \ CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX \ CERA CARNAUBA \ CIRE DE CARNAUBA, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, TOCOPHEROL, VANILLIN, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE, STEARYL STEAROYL STEARATE

What I like about MAC Matte Lipstick in Please Me:

• Classic, subtle pink color
• Very pigmented
• It’s matte but it’s really creamy and smooth to apply
• Good for everyday wear
• Great staying power

What I don’t like about MAC Matte Lipstick in Please Me:

• A little bit drying on the lips
• Settles on lip creases
• Pricey, just like the rest of MAC’s lipsticks
• My love-hate relationship with it

My initial reaction when I opened the lipstick was wow, it looks kind of close to Revlon’s Pink In The Afternoon Lipstick. After testing it, I didn’t know whether to like it or not. Please Me is a pretty, fresh-looking shade of pink and I thought- this is the shade that I’ve been waiting for two years now. But somehow, I was disappointed. I really thought that it was going to be HG-material for me. I knew I loved it from the moment I saw it on the world wide web, but upon seeing the lipstick in person I thought maybe I should’ve passed on this one. The color is lovely but I find that Please Me doesn’t flatter my skin tone.

 Comparison. Left: MAC Please Me, Right: Revlon Pink In The Afternoon

I’ve had really high expectations from this lipstick, considering that it’s one of MAC’s best sellers. But I think I have a love-hate relationship with Please Me, just like how I felt with MAC’s Pink Nouveau Lipstick. It looked so pretty at first and when I tried it on again, it looked so terrible that I removed it right away and reached out for another lipstick.

Overall:

I’ve been wanting to buy Please Me for so long and when I finally got my hands on it, I’m not entirely sure whether I would want to use it frequently. Yes, it’s a beautiful color and it’s a fine lipstick all in all, but whenever I think about how it can look “blah” on me, I start to keep it away. With that being said, I probably won’t repurchase this shade and would just settle on lipsticks that work for me all the time.

Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipstick Pretty Please Review
ColorBar Nail Lacquer 79V Pretty Please 2
Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder
MAC Sheertone Blush Pinch Me Review, Swatch
All MAC Lipsticks Photos and Swatches
MAC So Chaud Lipstick Review 
MAC Craving Lipstick
MAC Satin Lipstick Faux
MAC Red Lipstick Review
MAC Lustre Lipstick Touch- Review, Swatch

The post MAC Matte Lipstick in Please Me – Review appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.

Being a makeup newbie, I have watched countless YouTube videos on the basics of putting on makeup. I became fascinated with how the makeup gurus put on just foundation or powder, blush, light lipstick or lip gloss and an eyeliner or mascara for the “no makeup” look or for their everyday look. I also wanted to try the winged tip that they so effortlessly do. Looks simple enough for a newbie right? So in order to recreate that simple look, I immediately rummaged into my stash and goodness me, I didn’t even own a decent eyeliner pen. Thank God for Watson’s. Good thing that the attendant at the IN2IT counter was very helpful and she even showed me how to use it, and so I purchased the IN2IT waterproof eyeliner pen in EP 01 very black.

From the IN2IT Website:

It’s easy to apply and draw accurate eye lines with IN2IT black eyeliner pens. They are ideal for drawing in a hurry and for learning to draw eye lines. No need to sharpen. Just take off the cap and draw. They are waterproof, dry quickly and easy to remove. Select from three different applicators to draw fine or thick eyelines.

I was very surprised to find out that IN2IT is an international brand. The IN2IT Waterproof Eyeliner Pen is made in Germany. It contains 1.2 mL of product. The silver and black packaging reminds me of Pentel pens, very straightforward and not cheap-looking. It is very easy to grip and can easily be controlled as you draw. There is a thick tip fiber applicator with which you can draw thick or thin lines depending on your stroke. I have very unstable hands so I have to be very careful not to create crooked lines, but because you can draw thin lines, I can easily achieve presentable looking eye lines. The IN2IT waterproof eyeliner pen provides a black ink-like effect. I don’t have to wait for a long time for it to dry. It does not smudge as well. Whenever I use it, I would just dab a powder on my eyelid and it stays put for the whole day even if I have oily skin. For the whole day, the eyeliner had minimal fading. It did not smudge on my upper lash line, which is good because I do not like to retouch my eyes whenever I go out. I have not yet tried this on my waterline or lower lash line because I am scared that it will irritate my eyes.

What I love about IN2IT Waterproof Eyeliner Pen:

• It is very affordable (not more than 400 pesos).
• Available at any makeup counters at leading department stores.
• Easy to apply and remove. Glides on real smooth. I just use wipes to remove or a Q-tip dipped in makeup remover to correct any mistakes.
• Can create fine or thick lines depending on your stroke.
• No sharpening needed.
• The tip does not fray.
• Dries quickly.
• Unscented.
• Good enough for a newbie.

What I do not like about IN2IT Waterproof Eyeliner Pen:

• What’s there not to like?

I know there are a lot of great eyeliner pens out there. But for now as a newbie, I am really satisfied with my IN2IT Waterproof Eyeliner Pen. I would repurchase this over and over. I just hope the pen will not dry out on me too fast before my next purchase. My only problem now is the technique to achieve the perfect wing, and as they say, practice makes perfect.

The beach is my happy place,

-Kitty-

IN2IT Waterproof Gel Liner Pencil 
In2It Waterproof Gel Liner Review
IN2IT Lash Define Mascara in Very Black
In2It Line Define Liquid Eyeliner Review
IN2IT Oil Control and Oil Free 2 Way Foundation in Warm Beige 
In2It Waterproof Eyebrow Colour
In2It Gel Blush in Peach
ELF Essential Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black Review
Chambor Stay On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil
Bourjois Contour Clubbing Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil Review, Swatch
VOV Eyeliner Pen Review
Eyetex Dazller Waterproof Eyeliner
Streetwear Stay On Long Wear and Waterproof Eyeliner – Emerald 

The post IN2IT Waterproof Eyeliner Pen Review appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.

As I write reviews on sunblocks and sunscreens, I came across some surprising facts about them. I visited the FDA site a couple of times and many others about sunscreens or sunblocks to write a good review. They made me more aware and more careful in choosing one. Read on to know what to look for in sun protection products.

SPF or Sun Protection Factor- This is identified by the number indicated on the bottle. SPF pertains to how protective the sunscreen or sunblock is to your skin from UVB rays only. UVB rays cause sunburn. SPF seems to be confusing to most. While we think SPF 30 is twice as protective as SPF 15. That is very much incorrect. In fact, sunscreen and sunblock that has SPF 15 blocks 94% of UVB rays. SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 50 are said to protect the skin from 98% of UVB rays. According to WebMD, higher SPFs cannot completely block 100% of UVB rays. FDA has actually released rulings on sunblock labels to limit it to SPF 50 only. Those who claim to have higher SPF has to submit further proof of higher protection.

Broad Spectrum- While SPF is the rating system to determine how protective a lotion is against UVB, unfortunately, there is no such number system to measure sunscreen’s or sunblock’s protection against UVA. UVA does not cause sunburns but it is the one that can penetrate our skin on a deeper level causing skin ageing, wrinkling, sagging and age spots too. Look for a sun protection lotion that claims to be broad spectrum. Aside from that, you may look for these ingredients known to effectively protect skin from UVA: Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide and Meroxyl.

Water Resistance- No sunblock or sunscreen is water resistant. Products claiming to be water resistant are said to protect the skin from harmful rays for around 40 to 80 minutes of water activity or sweating. Reapplication is a must. FDA in fact, no longer allow “waterproof ” and “sweat-proof” on sunscreen labels. Companies are required to submit documents proving such claim for FDA’s approval.

Sprays or Creams- While it is more convenient to apply sunscreen sprays, the cream types are recommended to use on face. This is to avoid inhalation of harmful ingredient that spray types may contain.

Chemicals to Avoid- I learned that not all sunscreen ingredients are safe to use on skin. Here are some chemicals to avoid.

Retinyl Palmitate or Vitamin A: This is said to cause tumors and lesions to develop faster when they are exposed to the sun. I read in the Environmental Working Group Page that the FDA and National Toxicology Program co-hosted on a study entitled Photocarcinogenesis Study of Retinoic Acid and Retinyl Palmitate and found out that the mice treated with Retinyl Palmitate and exposed to UV light developed skin tumor in faster rate than those UV exposed mice but untreated with Retinyl Palmitate. So far, I read that FDA has not come out with rulings on Vitamin A in sunblocks/ sunscreens yet.

Oxybenzone: This is said to be linked to hormone disruption and that it can cause allergic reactions too. But this ingredient is deemed safe by American Academy of Dermatology and is FDA-approved safe too.

Parabens: This is found in most cosmetics. It functions as a preservative, to keep the product from bacterial contamination. They say that parabens act like estrogen, which is known to play a role in breast cancer development. This chemical has been found in breast cancer tumors but FDA has yet to find out if parabens really has contributed to the cancer. While this is not yet proven, some opt to avoid them.

Sunscreen for your Skin Type. Choose a sunscreen suited for your skin condition. People with sensitive skin may benefit from using sunscreen for kids which are designed to suit their sensitive skin. Children’s sunscreens use ingredients less likely to irritate the skin, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. If you have skin allergies, avoid sunscreens that contain alcohol, fragrance, or PABA.

Comparing two sunscreens can be a sort of headache to many. But I believe having more information about SPF, UVA, UVB and anything pertaining to sun protection would really help us get the best protection we all need.

Always wear beauty,

Val

Tips on Choosing Perfume from the Legendary Perfume Makers – Guerlain
Tips on Choosing the Right Foundation for Your Skin Type
How To Choose The Right Bronzer
How To Choose Foundation Shade
How To Choose Nail Polish Color 
How To Choose The Right Blush 
Nivea Sun Moisturizing Immediate Sun Protection Review
Himalaya Herbals Natural Sun Protection Lip Balm
Himani Boro Plus Healthy Skin Herbal Sun Protection Lotion
Labello Sun Protect SPF 30 Waterproof Lip Balm
Biotique Sun Protection SPF 75 Review
The Nature’s Co. Mango Sun Protecting Lip Butter Review

The post Tips on Choosing the Best Sun Protection Products appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.

It’s been a while since I last used a Clinique Lipstick, though I’m a fan of their Chubby Sticks and use that one often. Thanks to relatives who had come to Manila from the states for a vacation, I got a pouch of new Clinique products to try, which I found delightful. The first item I tried was the lipstick. It’s the Clinique Different Lipstick in the shade called A Different Grape.

What Clinique says:

Different because of its smooth, comfortable feel. Moderate coverage in a remarkable range of shades, from cream to pearl. Every one packed with rich emollients.

A Different Grape – Pinkish grape

I checked this lipstick on the Clinique website and I saw that the packaging for it is a silver tube with horizontal indents, while what I have is a simple tube in the trademark green Clinique color. I’m not sure if the packaging was updated or mine is different because it came in a kit. Either way, it doesn’t really make a difference to me but I thought I might mention that little detail.

I was curious why this line of lipsticks is called Different Lipstick and got my answer on the Clinique website—it’s supposed to be different because of its smooth, comfortable feel. I find that this does indeed have a very smooth feel. There’s moisture in it that gives it a nice slip and makes it glide very easily on the lips. The finish of it is pretty much the opposite of matte. I loooove lipsticks like this because it feels and looks much better on my dry, lined lips. It’s got a bit of a lip balm feel to it. I wouldn’t exactly call it lightweight but I personally find it comfortable to use.

Clinique Different Lipsticks are available in nearly two dozen shades. I received A Different Grape, which to my eyes is basically a plum with a pinkish undertone. I don’t have a lot of plums in my stash so I was happy to try this. Unfortunately I think with my current super black hair color, A Different Grape is a tad dark. I find that bright, lively colors suit me better now. Still, A Different Grape is a nice color, and I plan to use it as a light tint, by dabbing it on. It also has a slightly shiny finish, with no shimmer or glitter.

See, this lipstick is quite pigmented and a single swipe yields a lot of color. One layer all over the lips shows the color of A Different Grape clearly, so if I want just a light wash of it, I’ll have to dab it on or use a lip brush to apply.

Its lasting power on my lips is average, if a little weak—3 hours or less, though I’ve come to expect that of lipsticks with a moist, glossy feel. I don’t find it either drying or moisturizing.

Pros:

• Rich,  smooth, moisturizing feel.
• Doesn’t seep into fine lines or bring attention to them.
• Same thing for dryness, this doesn’t make it look worse or more obvious.
• Barely has any scent.
• There’s no discernible taste to it.
• It’s pigmented.
• The finish looks natural and flattering on the lips.
• It doesn’t dry up my lips.

Cons:

• Doesn’t last long on the lips.
• Is on the expensive side. It costs $15 on the Clinique website, not sure how much it’s priced locally.

Overall:

The Clinique Different Lipstick is pretty much what I’d expect from a Clinique lipstick. It’s got a rich, smooth feel, and looks natural and good on the lips. A Different Grape is even ever so slightly reminiscent of a popular Clinique lippie, Black Honey. I’d recommend this product to those who like lippies with a moist feel and shiny finish with a natural-looking effect.

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The post Clinique Different Lipstick in A Different Grape – Review appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.

My skin care regimen has always been so simple. I like washing my face with soap and water, it’s as simple as that. I often neglect and become too lazy to do the cleanse, tone, and moisturize method. Being surrounded by kikay mom, sister and aunts, they would often nag me about taking the extra steps. They would tell me, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and so began my quest for moisturizers. I have tried another popular brand, sadly enough it worsened my pimples. Then I saw my mom’s bottle of Olay Regenerist Superstructure Cream with SPF 30. I was really hesitant to try Olay products as it gives an impression of being used for aging and mature skin.

Product Claim:

Olay Regenerist Superstructure Cream with SPF 30 helps restore a firmer, more youthful appearance by helping to protect against UV rays and rebuild skin’s surface. Help block direct DNA-damaging rays to help protect skin and maintain collagen’s structural integrity. Hydrate to help restore skin’s firmness and help rebuild skin’s surface. Broadspectrum SPF 30 UVA/UVB sunscreen.

Active Ingredients:
Homosalate 8% w/w, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3% w/w, Octocrylene 2.25% w/w, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid 2% w/w.

I was intrigued with the quite mouthful of active ingredients and so, I tried to research on what these were. I found out that homosalate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid is a sunscreen ingredient and a UVB protector.

Like most Olay products, it comes in a very classy red and black bottle with pump. It has 50 mL worth of product. So, after washing my face in the morning, I apply a pea-sized worth of cream and massage it all over the face and neck. It spreads easily and leaves a slightly greasy/sticky feeling and a bit of a shine after application, but it goes away as it settles. May be the greasiness and the sheen is from the SPF part, as most SPF leaves a white cast sometimes. I have oily/acne prone skin, so I only apply a pea-sized amount. Since it is very moisturizing, I started using it off every other day just to see how my skin would react. Thankfully, I did not experience any negative reactions and did not cause breakouts. I have been using this for the past three months in the morning and I have noticed somehow that my skin felt healthier and smoother. I like the fact that this is a moisturizer with high SPF so even if I go out of the house, my skin would be protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Since it has SPF, I was expecting a chemical smell to it, but I was surprised that it has a nice, mild somewhat powdery scent. The pump dispenses just the right amount and it doesn’t squirt or even spill.

What I love about Olay Regenerist Superstructure Cream with SPF 30:

• Nice classy packaging.
• Moisturizes.
• High SPF, good enough when going out.
• Made my skin soft and smoother.
• Pump dispenses just the right amount of cream and more hygienic.
• Nice faint powdery scent.
• Did not cause any violent reaction to my oily/acne prone skin.

What I do not like about Olay Regenerist Superstructure Cream with SPF 30:

• I find this expensive (sorry, I can’t remember the exact price, around 1000 pesos or less).
• Sticky/greasy feeling after application.
• Since I have used this during our cold “ber” months, I am not sure how my skin would react to it during summer.

Overall, I would say that this is a good product during the cold weather we are having as it protects and improves the skin. I am still unsure if this would work during our warmer weather since it is an intense moisturizer. To date, I still use this every other day especially more when I would go out of the house. I would repurchase Olay Regenerist Superstructure Cream with SPF 30 if my skin would not react violently to it during the coming warmer months.

The beach is my happy place,

-Kitty-

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Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum
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Olay Moisturizing Lotion Review

The post Olay Regenerist Superstructure Cream with SPF 30 Review appeared first on Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog.