My Makeup Blog: makeup, skin care and beyond

Advice on Blogging

2012-05-22T07:30:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, Today's post is somewhat personal to me. As much as I try not to write a blog about blogging, through the years I have people asking me for advice about this particular topic. However, in light of the fact that I just spent 2 days renovating my blog, I believe it is apt to write something about blogging with hope that it answer some questions that you may have about blogging. 1. Take money out of the equation Believe me when I say this: a lot of people blog but not many people make money out of it. Therefore, don't blog with hope that it will bring you money. Instead, write because you want to and you love to. Your passion will shine through and it is better that way in the long run. Also, when you do...

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Bloglovin' Test

2012-05-20T00:04:00.003-04:00

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This is just a taste of what's going on in my site. To read the full post, please click the title of this post to visit My Makeup Blog.

The Tale of Two Deodorants

2012-05-16T07:30:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, Perhaps one of the categories least reviewed in this blog is deodorants. It's not like everyday that I run out of deodorants and have the need to get a new one, you know. But it's been hot lately and those who are following me via Twitter know I have been lamenting about it. The heat brings sweats, which may or may not give the body a certain type of unpleasant body odor. On top of that, I am now exercising more frequently and rigorously, which means only one thing: I stink louder than a locker room after a football practice. The Nivea Extra Whitening anti-perspirant was something I used for almost a year. The only reason I bought it was the two words written in pink. Yeah, the promise of having extra-whitening...

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What Really Happened at MMB Testing Center

2012-05-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, For the almost 4 years since I started blogging here, I have tried countless products before reviewing them and only the ones that meet my standards get to be showcased here. Like many aspects of my life, I'm quite picky when it comes to posting product reviews. After all, you read the review, you buy the product, you end up not liking it and who are you going to blame? While it's not likely that the blogger gets the share but somehow, I do feel responsible for my reviews and as the years go by, I thrive to do my best to give you the best sense of how a certain product is going to work. With all that said, sometimes you need to kiss a gazillion frogs before finding a prince. And then hoping the prince doesn't turn into a...

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New Mineral Cosmetic Company: Pink Blossom Cosmetics

2012-05-01T07:42:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, In February, Lilly Yang, the owner of Pink Blossom Cosmetics, contacted me and asked me if I wanted to review some products from her mineral makeup line. As a mineral makeup lover, I jumped into the bandwagon and after some emails, Lilly sent me a package to Vietnam! I appreciate that she took a risk to send her products because at that time, Pink Blossom Cosmetics only served domestic customers. Lucky for us, the transition time was short and I received the package about 2 weeks later. Lilly was generous to send me 4 full-size eye shadows and 2 samples in clam shells. The packaging was beyond gorgeous as the products were housed in a beautiful box that I get to keep for display in my vanity table. The box plus...

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P90X Mike Check

2012-04-23T10:41:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone, I started P90X last month, wrote about it here and there and then went completely quiet about it. And you thought I quit, didn't you? Well, for once I didn't, although there were some moments that came very close. But then, I snapped out of it and told myself, "Dao, you're going this far, why do you want to stop now?" The truth is, I'm on week 8 of P90X, which means there are only 5 weeks left after this and I'm done with this round. While phase 1 (aka the first 4 weeks) was a delight, phase 2 has been a drag. Out of 6 workouts a week, only 1 is new. The other 5 I remember like they are the back of my hand now. On top of that, I find Cardio-X to be easy now. I can do it for the whole time and feel underwhelm. I can't...

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Appearances

2012-04-20T07:30:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, Lately, I have been busy writing left and right. I have nothing to complain here as all my blogging life I have living up for this moment: the moment to be published in a magazine. I guess it is legitimate to say it is every blogger's dream to graduate to the big league. I was lucky enough to have my articles in three different magazines this month: two in paper and one online. One funny thing when I thought about all this: when I started this blog, I did not tell anybody. It was a way for me to let go of my own frustration about the lack of progress at grad school. Gradually, a couple of friends knew and then a couple of faculty members. It was not a big deal but a lot of them thought I should quit this and concentrate...

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My Inner Martha Stewart Unleashed

2012-04-16T07:30:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone, I hope you had a lovely weekend. Mine was kinda crazy the moment I took a look around my room and realized how messy it was. Stuff were piling on top of my desk, the night stand, and the vanity table. Yikes! I have assignments to do and I could not work in that condition. The mess blocked my qi. After analyzing the situation, I came to a conclusion that my makeup needed some sort of division. The cookie tins don't cut it anymore. I had a hard time finding things from them. I needed a centralize unit. I decided right then and there that I would put the things I use frequently on the vanity table while the rest of the stuff is systematically stored in the drawer. I found a wooden tray that was small enough to fit the area...

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Ze Laptop Iz Alive!

2012-04-12T09:31:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone, I was very nervous last week with my laptop going blank and a due date inching closer and closer. On top of that, I have a whole bunch of pictures in my computer that I would like not to be gone forever. I prayed long and hard before taking the laptop to the repair shop. A day and $150 bucks later, my laptop was revived! Thank you, Baby Jesus! It's a Saturnalia miracle! Also, thankfully, my brother's desktop was alive and well so I was using it for work. Surprisingly, I was more productive while working with a different computer for a day or two before I slacked off again :) Oh social websites, thou are time suckers! But on the other note, I am officially a published author now. Two of my articles were picked up by a...

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A Quick, Quick Note about My Laptop

2012-04-04T09:56:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone, I'm really sorry for the lack of posts lately. My laptop, the one I've been using since the end of 2009, decided to give me a finger by not working. It just does not turn on despite how hard I press the button. This is the first time I've had a problem with it as it has always been a good laptop to me. Right now, I'm worried because I do have a lot of stuff stored in that laptop. Even if it decides to die, I hope there's a way to retrieve all of my files. They may not cost anything but they do store a lot of my memories inside. Just think about all the pictures, documents, music files, and short video clips I have. I thought about not being able to see some of Belly's pictures again and it made me sad. Anyways, I hope...

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Low Blood Sugar, P90X, and Opportunities

2012-03-28T06:20:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone, Today was supposed to be nail day but seriously, it has been a crazy, crazy day. From the moment I woke up, I had a conference call. It happened even before I had a chance to eat. Then, I started packing for a meeting later in the day. It was one thing after another and another. By the time I got home, I was so tired that I decided to take a nap instead of eating. Crazy, yah? However, it wasn't even that bad, compared to yesterday. I did my stuff before doing P90X. About 15 minutes into it, I had a feeling that I was going to crash. So I wrapped it up as quickly as I could before going downstairs to find something to eat. Now, this had never happened to me. Low blood sugar? Nah. Usually, it's the opposite but for...

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SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel is My Skin Savior

2012-03-27T07:30:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, I carried that much makeup and skincare products with me when I went to China last year. Since I like to travel, I have to find a way to pack the best of the best with me. When it comes to skincare, I want my skin to look good and blemish-free when I'm on the road. Believe it or not, SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel has been my companion to various trips within the country and overseas as well. I was so lucky that Dr. Leslie Baumann suggested this product and sent it to me. And you want to know why? Because this green gel rocks! First of all, let me get this right out of the ballpark: I don't love the price. It costs $60 for a 30ml bottle of serum that smells like freshly cut grass. However, Phyto Corrective...

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I Get a Break from P90X. Well, Kinda, Sorta

2012-03-26T12:20:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone, Guess what? I'm at week 4 of P90X already. Time really flies. It felt like yesterday when I put my first shy step toward this program by putting the play button on the DVD to start Core Synergistic. An hour later, I was alive and well. It made me believe that I could survive the first week of P90X and I did, with the help of Twitter and Fitocracy. Week 1 brought me a lot of pain. I have done a lot of painful things in my life and so far, nothing beat the afterburn of Yoga-X. That was a vicious workout that left my biceps too sore for me to sleep. Lucky me, I have my new best friends Deep Heat and Icy Cold to ease the pain just enough for me to get some sleep. Week 2 was a little bit easier and so was week 3. Now,...

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Fave 5: Books

2012-03-23T06:23:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone, I love reading. Before I found out that I could actually borrow books from the library, I spent a lot of money on books. Really, like a hundred dollars a month on them only to find out some of them could disappoint me greatly. Since I move a lot, owning books can be quite a hassle when the time comes to move to a new place. I ended up donated lots and lots of books and only keep the ones I love and read often. Here are my favorite 5: 1. The Tales of Beedle the Bard (J.K. Rowling) If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is a must-read for you. Of course, the book was mentioned in book 7 but you don't get the whole idea of what the stories are until you read the book. It's short but is a very engaging book for Muggles...

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Lemony Goodness: What Lemon Can do for You

2012-03-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, To paraphrase President Kennedy, "Ask not what your lemon can do for you, ask what you can do for your lemon." Well, dear Prez, I can make lemonade, of course! But wait, don't stop there. Lemon is good beyond making lemonade. And squirting into pho and various kinds of soups. And making lemon pie. And lemon cheesecake. And lemon tart. Well, you get the idea. So true, lemons are pretty good! Source But what you may not know is lemons are good for your nails, skin, and hair, too! Here are 3 ways to make the best out of your lemons: 1. Hair: When I was a kid, I used to cut up half a lemon and use it as a conditioner for my hair. Conditioner did not exist until I was eight so in order to detangle hair, lemon was...

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Dot, Dot, Dash

2012-03-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, Lately, I've read a lot of awesome nail tutorials and they make me itch as I want to do something fancy for my nails. You see, besides the occasional glitter obsession, I'm kind of a one-color nail kind of girl. But with the dotting nail trend that has been blooming lately, I couldn't wait to bust out my fancy smancy dotting tool. Fancy, I'm telling ya. On top of that, they are free. These are the pencils I collected during my trip to China last year. Before I started, I needed to calibrate my instrument (fancy way to say dotting the pencil on paper with nail polish.) Like this: Then, I painted my nails with a base color, placed a dot of nail polish and do my first dotting to see how it goes. Sometimes, things...

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Review: Maybelline Clear Smooth BB Silk Shine Free Two Way Cake Powder

2012-03-20T09:26:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone, Last Sunday, I went to a friend's wedding and literally had 5 minutes to do my makeup. While I was doing my eyes, I realized I had about 15 minutes to get to the premise before the reception started. Chop, chop, Dao! I had no time to do some fancy foundation routines so I grabbed the best option possible: Maybelline Clear Smooth BB Silk Shine Free Two Way Cake Powder. Exhale. What a long name for a makeup product. I did have lots of fun at the party and my makeup was simple yet flawless. Also, I learned a lot about this foundation that day, too! First of all, last Sunday was not the first time I used this product but it was the first time I wore it out. About a couple of months ago, I was looking for a finishing...

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Upping the Ante

2012-03-19T10:49:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone, First of all, I would like to thank everyone for the encouraging words during my fitness journey. They mean a lot to me. If you guys are following me via Twitter (and you should!), you probably notice that I have tweeted a lot about fitness recently. I was surprised that not only my Twitter people are still following me but my tweets inspire them to start exercising (well, at least one person that I know for sure!) And guess what, that makes me happy! I know to start exercising is not easy. I tried so many times in the past but I failed. This time around, I have the people and the tools to make it happen and only time can tell how far I can go. The dumbbells, my shoes, plus a mat for my knees During the weekend,...

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How to Remove Glittery Nail Polish

2012-03-16T07:33:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, Do you love glittery nail polish? I do, I do, I love it very much! It sparkles, it shines, it makes my nails look very interesting. However, there's a downside to every bling: glittery nail polish are too tough to remove! As much as I tried removing them, there would be some tiny little flecks that did not want to come off. Grr! But don't fret. You live, you learn. After wearing and removing so many layers of glittery nail polishes later, I have come up with a fail-proof method that does not make me mad when it comes to removing glittery nail polishes. I hope this trick will save you a lot of pain in the future, too. Here's how you do it: 1. Soak a cotton pad with nail polish remover: No, I didn't say dab, I...

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Time to Switch Facial Cleanser: Hazeline Clear White

2012-03-14T09:26:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone, Lately, the weather in my 'hood has been scorching hot. In Saigon, when the heat comes, it comes with vengeance. The nice weather forecast lady predicted the heat is going to continue until mid-April and can get up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Not cool, weather, not cool! As a result of the heat, I have developed some sort of bumps on my forehead that did not exist when the weather was oh, about 2 degrees cooler. Regardless of how much I clean my face with black Pond's and the facial cleansing brush, the bumps did not seem to go away. Out of desperation, I decided to try something different: Hazeline Clear White facial cleanser. Hazeline Clear White facial cleanser with turmeric extract and jojoba oil to prevent...

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Wishing You Were Here

2012-03-12T10:14:00.001-04:00

Nah, this post should be titled "Wishing I Was Still There." This picture was seriously beautiful and I had a nice weekend on the road. We went to Ha Tien, a beautiful and peaceful place by the sea in the Southern part of my country. It was a butt numbing ride to get there and back. But it was so worth it as I was surrounded by the most gentle people I have ever met. On top of that, every where I went, I saw beauty. Simple, elegant, natural undisturbed beauty. The kind that is hard to find these days when all the construction sites are sprouting like mushrooms over the rain. While I take a lot of pictures of myself, I don't get people to take my pictures. If you want to see who you really look like, have someone take your picture. It...

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Can You Guess What I'm About to Do?

2012-03-06T07:50:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone, Look what I just got: Yup, pure Vaseline in a tube. Can you believe that tiny tube costs me almost 50 cents here? Back in the States, you can get a jar of Vaseline the size of a jumbo tron for a dollar. This is highway robbery, yo! Maybe the global energy crisis has to do with the rising price of Vaseline after all. I really do not know for sure but that's my educated guess. But what am I going to do with it? Can you guess? Can you? Can you? I'm going to make lip gloss with it! Nope, it's not the type of "lip gloss" where you mix your Vaseline with whatever colorant and call it a day. What I am going to do is to melt it down and mix it with oil to create a clear liquid lip gloss. You can't...

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A Lesson in Hair Care

2012-03-05T08:36:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone, After years of being a beauty blogger, I thought I knew everything. However, once in a while life throws me a curve ball to make me re-evaluate my so-called "superiority." The most recent one involves a shampoo. You see, I was using the black Sunsilk shampoo with shimmer (aka Sunsilk Co-Creations by Jamal Hammadi.) It was fine and dandy until I decided to jump ship to the pink Sunsilk (another Co-Creations product by Yuko Yamashita.) Why the change of heart, you ask. Because the TV commercial told me so. You see, the pink Sunsilk is meant for straight hair and since I do have stick straight hair, it should be good, right? Well, kinda. The first few weeks went fine: my hair was sleeker and dried a lot faster...

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Just a Quick Word

2012-03-03T05:12:00.001-05:00

Thank you for making my day better with your comments, support, and viewership. You guys probably don't know this but you are the best readers a blogger can ever have. I hope you have a nice weekend. Come back here on Monday so we can have more fun :) With love, Dao xoxo P.S: Please support my blog by following and subscribing to my feed. Thanks a lot!

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I Have Been Good

2012-03-01T10:20:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone, Today is the beginning of a new month and I need to turn to another page on my calendar. On top of using it to track the day, I also use my calendar to take notes of the days I work out. Every day I do a full exercise deserves an x mark. A day that I only do half an exercise has half an x. A day that I don't do anything is left blank. So far, here is how my calendar looks during the last two months: More x marks than blank spaces! Yay me! I copied this method from a friend and it works for me. Seeing more x marks filling up further into the week makes me happy. There were days when I had all the excuses in the world not to exercise but I managed to work out. On Tuesday, I had one at 9pm and went to bed later. It...

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