Yellow Yum

Zoya Polish in Reagan

2013-05-14T23:52:00.001+08:00

I was able to finally get my nails done after 3 months! Yes, 3 months without getting them done because I gave birth and I couldn't leave my baby since I breastfeed. Now that I'm starting to pump and store milk for my baby, I get to go and do my own personal thing. So one of the top priorities in my list is getting my nails done. I went to Coco Luca, one of my happy places and chose a bright purple shade for my nails.

Zoya in Reagan

It's almost the end of summer so I wanted to go with something a little bit bright. I initially wanted something almost neon, but realized it might not look good on me. Haha!

I like how shiny it is and that even though it's a bright shade, it's still quite wearable and it's got an almost berry hint to it.

It's actually my first time to try Zoya even though I have heard of the brand in a lot of blogs and vlogs but I've never had a chance to test it out. It's been 2 weeks and so far I only got 2 chips. Considering how busy I am with my baby and household chores, I'd say it held up really well. ;) I wish Coco Luca has more shades, if I'm not mistaken they only had 4-5 shades and they're quite similar with each other.

I love trying out different brands of polishes to see which ones are long lasting and which ones are not. What other brands do you recommend? Hit me up! :) Oh I'll also be uploading my most recent vlog when I went to Coco Luca, so subscribe to my channel and watch it there. :D

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YELLOWMUM: 7 Pregnancy Must Haves

2013-05-03T11:00:00.000+08:00

When I gave birth I was already 41 weeks, so one could say I was pregnant for almost an entire year! I had my shares of ups and downs, thankfully, mostly were ups. I remember researching, watching videos and reading all about pregnancy, what to expect and what to do. Being a first time mom is quite difficult, especially if you don't know anyone who has just given birth or are on the same boat as you. So I wanted to recap and talk about my must haves and the things that helped me and in my opinion, are essential for pregnant women.

taken during my baby shower

Bra Extenders This is one of my smartest buys! Imagine I purchased my bra extenders for P50/P60 per pack in the department store and I used it my entire pregnancy! I didn't want to buy new bras because I knew that my "girls" will shrink after giving birth. Yeah, I'm cheap like that. Haha!
Morning Sickness Relief (i.e. Kiam Moy) One of the battles during first trimester is morning sickness. Mine lasted 2-3 weeks and it was tough. I researched and read that some kind of bracelet helps, ginger ale and some injectables. But I found my relief in Kiam Moy. It was a quick relief though, it's just a temporary thing to relieve me from nausea and not make me want to vomit every 2 seconds. I bought my stash from Aji Ichiban. Honestly, any kind of relief back then was greatly appreciated!
Water I only vomited 3x during my entire pregnancy, but I know that some women especially those battling with morning sickness vomits everyday! Hydrating oneself is so important! Other than that, water is obviously needed by everyone. However, pregnant women pees more so replenishing the loss liquid is critical.
Stretch Marks Lotions and Creams No ones wants stretch marks, including me! Unfortunately, I still got stretch marks even though I religiously put stretch marks lotions and creams. But honestly, if I could turn back the clock, I won't change a thing. I would still apply these lotions and creams because they helped relieving me from the itch and it also helped moisturize my skin. Never did I feel that my skin got dry because of my pregnancy.
Vitamins (i.e. Folic Acid, Prenatal Vitamins) I think this is pretty self explanatory. Remember it's not just for you but for the baby too!
Sandals (i.e. Fitflops) I used Fitflops because it's really comfortable and the say it helps with back problems also. I don't know if it's just coincidence or it's true- My lower back is really problematic. It hurts after a few hours of walking or standing up. I knew that being pregnant, it would be a bigger problem. I wore my Fitflops almost my entire pregnancy and my lower back didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. Plus less chances of tripping too!
Soft non-wired bra I didn't buy new bras but during my 8th-10th month, I realized that a soft non-wired bra would have been more comfortable for me as my wired bras started digging into my skin. It hurt everytime I moved. If I bought a new bra, it would have been a non-wired one.
I hope this helps! Do share if you have any other must haves, maybe other pregnant women are clueless just like I was when I was pregnant. :)
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Maybelline Eye and Lip Makeup Up Remover

2013-05-02T17:16:00.000+08:00

I believe that taking off makeup is a must at the end of the day. I remember my mom always telling me how important it was even back when I was in highschool and rarely wear any makeup. I always see her in the bathroom removing any trace of makeup before going to bed and given that my mom has really beautiful skin, I knew that she knows what she's talking about.

So fast forward a couple more years when I finally started putting on concealer, I would use my mom's cold cream to remove it. It just became a habit. When I started venturing into makeup and I would put on eye makeup more regularly, I learned about eye and lip makeup removers. They're more gentle compared to facial makeup removers because they're intended for sensitive areas. This was so important to me because I used to get my eyelashes permed and I needed to use something mild to keep my curled lashes.

One of my newest discovery (which is such a late discovery, because it's been around for ages) is Maybelline's Eye and Lip Make Up Remover. This product is so affordable, less than P200 and because you only you use it for the eyes and lips, it will last a long time.

Efficient and easy- This formula instantly removes all eye and lip make up, even waterproof and non-transfer.

Gentle- Formulated for sensitive eyes, it is especially gentle for the delicate skin around the eyes

As with other eye makeup removers I've tried, it has two parts and you shake it to mix the oils together.

For this product, the oil is blue in color and it's quite visible when you put it in the cotton.

Here's a little illustration of how the product works:

complete/full eye makeup

with only one swipe

completely removed my eye makeup, even the waterproof ones!

all the dirt from my eye makeup
I give this product 2 thumbs up! It does what it's supposed to do and it does not sting my eyes. It doesn't have anything in it that makes me tear up when I use it on my eye area. That's how eye makeup removers should be people! I usually use use this for my eye makeup unless I wear a truly long wearing lipstick then I use it for my lips as well. I always wear waterproof eyeliner and mascara and have a hard time removing them with just my usual makeup remover. With Maybelline Eye and Lip Make Up Remover, it removes my eyeliner and mascara instantly. You can see in the photo above that it removed a whole chunk of my eyeliner with just one swipe! Did I mention it's so affordable too? Definitely repurchasing this once I run out!
Rating:

3 out of 3 Schnauzers
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Bronze Natural

2013-05-01T19:20:00.002+08:00

I'm back with a FOTD post. I haven't posted one in so long because honestly, after giving birth I've been staying home a lot which means not wearing any makeup obviously. One of the few times I did wear makeup was during my husband's birthday. We decided to have a family dinner at Spirals in Sofitel. We haven't been there in so long, and now that it's fully renovated, I decided H's birthday was the perfect excuse to go. I went with a natural look since I was with my baby and I knew I'd be stuffing my face with yummy food.

Products Used:

Face:

NYX Photogenic HD Primer

Maybelline Pur Minerals Compact Powder in B01

Krave Ultra Bright HD Concealer

Krave Oil Eliminator and Skin Hydrator

ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder

Eyes:
Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
NYX Nude on Nude Natural Look Kit
Krave Arch Precision Eyebrow Definer Kit
K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner in Super Black
Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara

Lips:
EOS Lip Balm
Colour Collection Confidence Boost Lipstick in Tickle Me Pink

And here's a photo of me and my little girl. Yes, I like that we are wearing very identical outfit. ;)

Hope you guys had a relaxing holiday! :D

Summer Breeze Look

2013-04-24T18:32:00.000+08:00

New makeup tutorial! I've really been working on my youtube channel because I find it easier to show you the procedures and also to discuss topics with you. I also have some youtube exclusives such as my favorites for the quarter and random vlogs. But don't fret, I won't neglect my blog. ;)

Here's an easy-to-recreate look for you. I wanted to play around with a little bit of color since I'm itching to go swimming and just enjoy summer (sans the heat). In this tutorial, I picked out some very wearable shades to create a cute daytime look you can wear wherever you are, whether it be the beach or the city!

Products Mentioned:
Virginia Olsen Mineral Foundation in Shady Lady
Virginia Olsen Hide-A-Pore in Medium
Clinique Eyeshadow in Peacock
Clinique Eyeshadow in Daybreak
Shu Uemura Eyeshadows (Lavender, Sky Blue and Orange)
NYX Nude on Nude Look Kit
Fanny Serrano Long Last Liquid Eyeliner
Avon Glimmerstick in Cosmic Brown
Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara
Virginia Olsen Light Brown Matte
NYX Rouge in Rose Petal
LuLu Makeup Bronx Duo
Snoe Poudre Extraordinaire
BYS Lipgloss and Lipstick Duo in Dusty Rose

Other Products Used:
Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
NYX HD Photogenic Primer
Krave Arch Precision Eyebrow Designer Kit in Pecan Deluxe
Krave Ultra Bright HD Dark Undereye and Blemish Whitening Concealer in Struffoli

Tools Used:
Charm Flat Top Brush
Suesh Fluffy Brush
Megaga Eyeshadow Brush from Megaga 10 Preimere Set
Charm Angeled Eyeshadow Brush from Charm Travel Pro Set
Charm Flat Definer Brush from Charm Travel Pro Set
Charm Big Blending Brush
Charm All Purpose Blending Brush
Virginia Olsen Angeled Blush Brush
Megaga Professional Kabuki Brush

Don't forget to use discount code VOChar to get 10% off on your Virginia Olsen purchases! Also, don't forget to subscribe to my youtube channel for more beauty videos!

Summer Outfit Suggestions

2013-04-18T18:45:00.000+08:00

It's summmeeeerrr! And it's so friggin hot! I personally prefer the cold weather better, meaning 'ber months. However summer reminds me of fun and frilly outfits. Here are some outfit suggestions from my sister, Dane. You can check her blog out, http://ellousane.tumblr.com.

First Outfit:

top: from 168

shorts: Bubbles Online Shop

bracelets: unbranded

Necklace: Envy

bag: Trunk Show

sandals: Forever 21

Second Outfit:

top: Forever 21 Essentials

maxi skirt: Landmark

scarf: from Vigan

bracelet: Wilson accessories

bag: Chloe

sandals: Forever 21

suggested hairstyle

Third Outfit:

top: Just G.

skirt: from 168

bracelets: Wilson accessories

sandals: Finickee

suggested hairstyle
by Ninna Alvarez

Sorry for the sucky lighting. It was already night time and we were able to film this video. I promise to make more videos with Dane next time. :)

I personally like the second outfit best. It's easy breezy. ;) How about you?

Krave Arch Precision Eyebrow Definer Kit

2013-04-17T20:38:00.003+08:00

I do believe that eyebrows really help complete a look as it frames the face. So I do test and try out different eyebrow products because I want to be able to share with you a variety of brands. Most recently, I have been loving a new eyebrow duo. If you follow my blog, one of the eyebrow products that I use a lot is Modelco Eyebrow Design Kit. It is quite expensive though and I know a lot of you are looking for something a little less pricey. Well I found a dupe for it for only P399! It's Krave's Arch Precision Eyebrow Definer Kit.

Here's a First Look video that I did featuring Arch Precision and Ultra Bright HD Concealer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DD4Xr4L7Lg&feature=share&list=UUW4GStLnw2l20AgMD1U4pjQ

Shape your brows in an instant with our long lasting formula that conditions your eyebrows and make it perfectly arched all day. The kit provides you with 2 ways of defining your brows. Use the cream alone or with the powder or vise versa. You can also use the powder with a drop of water to line your brows. Use the angled brow brush inside for easy shaping & application.

I have been using this product for the past weeks because I wanted to test it out and see if it would withstand the summer heat. I've also tried it sans the wax to see if the powder alone is any good. Let me break it down for you.

Like:

A compact/handy product offers wax and powder. You don't need a brow mascara to set it in place in my opinion.
Wax is creamy and easy to apply and distribute/spread.
Pecan Deluxe shade is perfect for my eyebrows!
Cheap! For only P399.00!
It already has a mirror.

Dislike:

Powder alone isn't as pigmented as I thought.
Eyebrow makeup won't last the entire day of sweating because of this heat if the powder alone is used.
Has only one shade so far.

Here's how it looks on me:

I love this product! I've been using it almost everytime I go out. The main downside for me is that I have to make sure I use the wax before applying the powder because of our weather nowadays. I've tried using just the powder and I found that the tail rubs off because of my oily skin or sweat. I continue to use it though because it looks so natural. Plus it's perfect for my hair color! It's also so easy to use and the wax makes sure that my eyebrow hairs are tamed and the powder stays in place. No need for brow gel anymore!

Like what I mentioned in the video, if you have lighter hair color, I would suggest you use the powder alone (which means you may need to use a brow gel/mascara). I'm not sure if Krave will be coming out with a lighter shade next time. Check their page to get updates!

So that is it! Do let me know what other eyebrow products you'd like me to try out! :)

Rating:

2 out of 3 Schnauzers

YELLOWMUM: Baby's Outfit: Daddy's Girl

2013-04-14T07:00:00.000+08:00

A lot of people advised me not to buy a lot of clothes because babies grow up real fast, so I didn't. But of course I made sure I buy a couple of cute outfits for whenever we go out or for her to wear on special occasions. ;)

Here's one of her outfits:

my sleepy cutie!

top: Carter's Daddy's Girl

bottom: Bebe Plastic Diaper

mittens: Lulu Baby

socks: from Hong Kong

Flash Giveaway! Heat Wave Summer Bazaar Tickets!

2013-04-13T16:47:00.002+08:00

It's definitely summer!!! I'm sure everybody is feeling the heat. Well to make up for it, let me share a Flash Giveaway! :) I'm giving away tickets to the hottest bazaar this summer!

Heat Wave Summer Bazaar is happening on Apil 19-21, 2013 at the World Trade Center. The event offers a sizzling collection of the hottest summer essentials, from up and coming entrepreneurs featuring their hip and trendy summer items for those planning a summer getaway.

Products include swimwear, bandeaus and cover ups, summer tops and bottoms, summer accessories, flipflops, sandals, footwear, eyewear, headpieces, perfumeries, cosmetics, skincare necessities, novelty items, home accents, food treats and refreshments, and summer getaway destinations.

With this said, 6 winners will be winning 5 tickets each! All you have to do is Like my Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/YellowYum) and post "I want tickets to the Heat Wave bazaar @YellowYum". Deadline of giveaway is 2 days from now, April 15, 2013. I will be contacting you via Facebook message.

Good luck! :D

Candy Girl Look

2013-04-12T20:27:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! These past months I have been obsessed with Running Man. It's a Korean game show that' sooooooo funny! I swear, I have cried laughing so many times! I'm not into anything Korean so it was a surprise to me that I enjoyed this show so much that we would sleep at 3am just because we didn't notice the time!

So anyway, I'm starting to like KPop because of Running Man. I like SNSD or Girls Generation. ;) So I thought why not create something that reminds me of KPop. So here's a candy girl look for you. :) Thanks to my model, Lianne!

Products Used:

LuLu Makeup Madrid Palette

K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner in Super Black

Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara

ELF Bronzing Powder

NYX Mosaic Powder in Plummy

Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Bonbon Pink

Fanny Serrano Lip Palette

Other Products Used:
Loreal Base Magique Primer
Loreal True Match Foundation in N1
K-Palette Lasting 2 Way Eyebrow in 02

Tools Used:
Suesh Eyeshadow Brush
Megaga Professional Eyeshadow Brush
Charm Big Blending Brush
Charm Angeled Eyeshadow Brush from Charm Travel Pro Set
Charm Flat Definer Brush from Charm Travel Pro Set
Charm Angeled Brush from Charm Travel Pro Set
Megaga Professional Lip Brush

More photos:

Makeup by: Charlene Tan

Hair by: Ninna Alvarez

Look:

top: Terranova

shorts: Terranova

sandals: Otto

necklace: Silver Finds

bracelet: Envy

I Want To Be Part of Sample Room's Blogger Circle

2013-04-07T21:39:00.000+08:00

I have always been a smart spender. I usually spend days, weeks, sometimes even months thinking if I should purchase a product or not before actually doing so. If possible, I even do research and read reviews first to see if a product is really worth my money. I have had my compulsive buyer phase but it's just a phase. I still feel like an item should be worth if I'm shelling out my hard earned moolah.

I want to be part of Sample Room's Blogger Circle because I think that it's so great that I can get to try out products first before buying them. That saves me not just a lot of money but also time and effort in going to a store to buy. Now that I'm a new mom to my 6 week old daughter, I honestly have become more practical and being able to get samples to test out is perfect for someone like me as the money that I get to save from not buying products (that don't fit me/that turns out I don't like) can go to my baby's funds! :)

To know more about Sample Room,, visit their website at http://www.sampleroom.ph. Like them on Facebook at http://facebook.com/sampleroomph. You may also follow them on twitter at https://twitter.com/sampleroomph.

My Birthing Story

2013-03-31T22:39:00.001+08:00

I guess it goes without saying that my world definitely revolves around my new baby! I have finally given birth last February 19, 2013 at 41 weeks! My whole life changed since she was born. I am now a mom. Can you guys believe it? I feel like I was just talking about my pregnancy and now poof, she's here!

Watch my birthing video as I talk about my birthing experience. :)

We got to the hospital around 5am. It took us only 15 minutes to get to the hospital from our home because there was no traffic and maybe H was already getting anxious.

Here's a photo of me while waiting to be admitted. The resident doctor said my OBGYN asked me to be admitted because I was already 3cm dilated and 41 weeks pregnant, so I should deliver soon.

Upon admission, here is the room my hubby got for us. It was a small private room but he got the bigger one. The smallest private room was P2,200/night, and this room's P2,500/night. This room was a lot bigger than the other one, hence even with the P300/night difference, H opted for this.

Here's a photo I took because we were bored. It was around 1pm and I still wasn't in active labor. Contractions were about 15 minutes apart. But I was definitely sleepy and already tired. Anxious because I know I'll be giving birth that day or the next.

I wasn't allowed to take photos in the labor room and holy crap labor was sooo painful that even if I had my camera with me, I doubt that I'd be able to film nor take any photos! My labor was augmented and I was in active labor for almost 4 hours. I honestly couldn't imagine going through longer hours of labor without any epidural. Hats off to women who can do it all natural!

Everything was going smoothly, I was supposed to have a normal delivery. But at 7cm, Robyn's heart rate started to drop and given that it takes 1 hour for me to dilate 1cm, it will take 3 more hours before I can start pushing. My OBGyn didn't want to risk my baby's life and she assumed that it was because of cord coil that's why her heart rate was going down- and indeed it was.

At 10pm, Olivia Robyn Tan was born. The whole c-section was done within 6 minutes because they wanted my baby out right away. I was asleep when she was taken out. I woke up when I heard her crying. She cried loudly!

Thank you to my anesthesiologist Dr. Reyes for taking photos during my delivery! :)

Robyn was roomed in the day after. She was brought to us "permanently" around 2pm of February 20. Here's a photo of the new dad snapping away! He was such a big help because I couldn't and didn't want to get out of bed right away after the surgery. He was in charge of taking care of our princess.

Robyn was 7 lbs 13 oz and 50cm long. Talk about height right. :p She has dimples. It's funny because a couple of weeks before giving birth, I actually had a dream that my daughter has 2 dimples. And it turned out to be correct! ;)

Groggy, manas and tired- here's a photo of me my sister took when they visited me a day after giving birth.

As for me, my OBGyn visited me and checked on my stitches and she gave me instructions on how to clean them. I was doing well that 2 days after giving birth, I was already mobile. My MIL also prepared medicine and food that I needed to eat in order to regain my strength.

I want to thank my OBGyn, Dra. Caisip for being patient with me and being there during labor. She was so kind and she really made sure that my baby and I were both doing well. Just like what she said, her patients are both of us- not just me. Hands down, I am so thankful to her. The 2 Dr. Reyes who were my anesthesiologists. They were so friendly and so kind. One of them even held my hand while I was having my I.E. because it was so painful. Dr. Hernandez, our pedia, for taking care of my baby. All the nurses and resident doctors for making sure everything's doing great and all are normal. My experience with my hospital, Cadinal Santos Medical Center was really really worth every penny. All of their staff were friendly, very nice, and most importantly helpful! I, being a new mom, had so many questions and they were very patient with me and answered all of my concerns.

So I guess that's it for now. I'm off to do my motherly duties. Expect more posts on motherhood. I can't believe it--- I'm a mom! Ciao for now! :)

Favorite Find for 2012: Mascara

2013-03-25T19:06:00.000+08:00

Try to guess what my favorite find is! If you are a reader of my blog, one of my recent favorite makeup products is Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara. I was quite obsessed my eyelashes when I was younger. I wasn't blessed with long luscious thick lashes. I have sparse short lashes so curling it and putting on mascara was second nature. Nowadays, I'm not as particular anymore but giving some lovin' lovin' to my lashes especially when I'm all dolled up is definitely a must!

Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara is so far, the best mascara I have tried because it gives good length, amazing volume and the curl lasts the whole day. Even with only 1 coat of mascara, it already gives decent volume. What sold me was when I tested it a couple of times and all those times, it kept my curls up! I have never had a mascara that could do this, so I was really happy when I found it.

Some people may say the price is too steep, however, if you use mascaras on a regular basis, this is a great product to try out, especially if you have sparse short lashes like mine! It delivers what it promises! Fairydrops is also a brand that I have been waiting to hit the Philippine shores and I'm so glad it did. It's available at Beauty Bar, so try it out now as it does not disappoint. :)

Kerastase Specifique Bain Exfoliant Hydratant

2013-03-18T17:47:00.002+08:00

Kerastase is a brand I've always thought was too expensive. I thought that for hair care, it was quite pricey. I guess it shows I'm not much into hair care than I am into makeup. I recently had the privilege to try out a couple of their products and realized why they are priced that way-- because they deliver great results and they don't disappoint.

With that said, one of the products that stay true to that testament is Kerastase Specifique Bain Exfoliant Hydratant. I must say, this is definitely a winner because it really helped me with my dandruff problem.

It's an anti-dandruff shampoo that you use for 14 days and you'll get dandruff free hair. I actually included this in one of my Favorites Videos in my youtube channel because I only needed to use it for 12 days and my dandruff and flakes were gone! My husband has also used it too and swears by it.

It retails for about P1,450.00 but I personally feel like you only need to use it when you have dandruff, that's what I do. I normally use an organic shampoo and use the Bain Exfoliant Hydratant when there's an onset of dandruff and again, after a few days, I'm dandruff free again!

The shampoo has little granules that help moisturize your hair. Think of it has hair scrub. Haha! In fact, I used to use a different commercial brand of dandruff shampoo but stopped because I felt like my hair was getting stripped of moisture, hence making it dry and limp. With this shampoo, I never had that experience. True it's not as soft as what my normal hair would be, but it doesn't feel chalky and limp either.

I guess you can say I really really like this shampoo. Downside? Aside from the price tag, I don't like the smell. It has a strong "deodorant for men" kind of scent and I find that it's too much for me. After taking a bath, I would always get a little dizzy because of the strong scent.

Overall, I do recommend this shampoo. It's worth every penny! Say goodbye to embarrassing dandruff and flakes! How about you? Any Kerastase favorites? :)

Rating:

2.5 out of 3 Schnauzers

Disclaimer: Product is given by the company. All information written are based on my experience and are my 100% honest opinion.

Virginia Olsen Hide-A-Pore

2013-03-15T17:21:00.003+08:00

I'm extremely excited to share with you another favorite product of mine from Virginia Olsen. I think I've already mentioned this product before but haven't posted a review yet. Honestly, I think that I am blessed with quite good skin. One of my main concerns is my pores. Over the years, blackheads has become my biggest problem. My nose is so blackheads prone that I find that my pores have gotten bigger because of blackheads and whiteheads trying to make their way into my pores.

I was intrigued when I saw Virginia Olsen's Hide-A-Pore. It's from their Green Tea line which is is formulated using the nourishing, toning, healing and skin protecting ingredients: green tea leaves, zinc oxide, plus rice & bamboo silks—which come from the buds of the rice and bamboo plant. It is combined with cranberry powder for flavonoid and antioxidant properties.

This is a very special concealer to hide large pores, and help heal acne prone skin. It works well with any skin tone, cool, neutral or warm. It makes the perfect night minerals for your skin leaving your skin with the appearance of reduced pore size in the morning. You can also use this mineral if you aren't wearing any makeup, just to help absorb extra skin oils. It is simply applied with a dry makeup brush, you only need a very tiny amount to do your large pores or whole face, so a little goes a long way.

Virginia Olsen Hide-A-Pore contains only the best skin vitamins green tea powder, cranberry powder for the flavonoid and antioxidant properties, rice silk and bamboo silk, which come from the buds of the rice and bamboo plant, along with pure kaolin clay, zinc oxide & sericite, with iron oxides complete the ingredients in this fabulous pore hiding product. This product will not clog your pores, but it encourages a silky soft appearance of the skin, and helps to minimize the appearance of pores. This can be worn under your foundation during the day, and is nearly impossible to see.

Ingredients: Green tea, cranberry powder, rice silk, bamboo silk, titanium dioxide, mica, sericite, iron oxide, zinc oxide and kaolin clay. It's got SPF 19 and comes in 2 shades, light and medium. I chose medium for my skin tone.

I was able to try this during the Virginia Olsen Minerals Fantasy Holiday Collection launch and I was instantly blown away with the results. So I guess it's pretty obvious, I just had to buy it!

I've been using this product for a few months now and even though this is a little embarrassing, I decided to take photos of my large pores to show you what Hide-A-Pore does.

This is how my nose looks like without anything. You can also tell that even at the side of my nose, the pores are already quite visible. And yes, my nose is full of blackheads. Sorry 'bout that.

I apply Virginia Olsen Hide-A-Pore after my primer and prior to applying my face powder. Here's how it looks like with full makeup:

Obviously, it wouldn't make my nose perfect but you can clearly tell that my pores aren't as visible anymore. Even my blackheads aren't as "black" anymore. The pores on the sides of my nose are practically flawless. Best of all, it does not cake because it's in powder form.

Again, here's a side by side comparison:

Before & After

Given that it's one of my biggest insecurities, this has become one of my most favorite products from Virginia Olsen. Why? It delivers great results, it does what it's supposed to do. It leaves my nose a smooth finish and I even feel like it controls oil in a way. Even though it comes in 2 shades, it still blends very well with your foundation or powder. It lasts the whole day. You know me, I hate retouching and with this, I don't find the need to retouch whatsoever. Best of all? It does not clog your pores because it's mineral makeup.

Rating:

3 out of 3 Schnauzers

Ready for another amazing news? I am now an affiliate of Virginia Olsen which means more product reviews and features on Virginia Olsen. Stay tuned because I plan to do videos using VO products too! And another surprise? Discount for my readers! Simply use the discount coupon code: VOChar to get 10% OFF!

So share the love and the discount code to get discounts on your purchases! :D

Cosmetologie 2013

2013-03-15T16:04:00.000+08:00

Makeup lovers unite! Cosmétologie 2013 is fast approaching. It is a one-stop shop event for Beauty, Wellness & Trends. The expo is a place where we can test various products – from cosmetics, haircare, nailcare, fashion, salon equipment, massagers, aromatherapy, and the list goes on.

Exciting isn't it? The expo is on April 9, 2013 and September 23, 2013. Both will be held at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

I personally haven't had the chance to attend the previous expos, so I am really looking forward to this year's. If Robyn will allow me (given she'll only be 1 month and a few weeks by then), I will be attending the April 9 expo. If not, I'm sure to attend the one on September 23. :)

For more information, you can check their website at www.cosmetologiefair.com or call PEPGroup Inc. at 9280931 or you can also email them at info@PEPGroup.com.

Favorite Find for 2012: Blush

2013-03-11T11:30:00.000+08:00

I know I know... I should have finished all my Favorite Finds post last month, but what-do-you-know, something or someone popped out! So I guess I just have to finish all my Favorite Finds this month instead. :p

Today I will be talking about something that I actually didn't "find" last 2012, as I have discovered this product a few years back but up until now, it's still my favorite blush. It's Maybelline Clear Smooth Shine Free Blush in Fresh Rose.

This is by far my most favorite blush. I have quite a lot of shades in my makeup stash from pinks to corals to plums and even red oranges, however I find myself reaching for a pink blush on a regular basis because it's the most versatile and most wearable color. It flatters almost every makeup look! And the Maybelline Shine Free Blush in Fresh Rose is the one of the truest pinks I have in my collection. It's matte and it gives me the perfect "shy" look. My cheeks get the perfect shade that doesn't overpower my look. It's perfect for when I'm not wearing too much makeup and I want to look very natural to a smokey look with just a touch of pink on the cheeks.

Best things? The color stays put! I have had my share of blushes that seem to disappear after a few hours. This blush does not! And it stays matte which is perfect for oily-combination skinned women. It's also affordable and easy to find! :) What more can you ask for right? So yes, even though I didn't discover this product last year, it's still my favorite find to date!

TRESemme Tres Two Hair Spray

2013-03-10T10:30:00.000+08:00

First of all, Happy Birthday to my dad!!! :D We will be going to my parents' house to his party. Of course, I'm bringing Robyn. I'm sure it's going to be a riot because this will be the first time my relatives will be seeing the newest addition to the family! Have I mentioned, Robyn is the 4th generation in the family and so far she is the first to represent! :)

Anyways back to the topic today. ;) One thing I love doing to my hair is curling it for special events. I have straight hair and it's pretty limp. My mom has the same type of hair as mine and I remember seeing her with rollers in her hair all the time just to give it a little volume. Well as for me, since I've always had long hair (except now, because I had it cut in preparation for my delivery) I knew I wanted to experiment and give it waves and curls.

The main problem that I have with curling my hair is that it never stays put! It doesn't say longer than 2 hours or so. I've tried several hairsprays but nothing seemed to work- until I found TRESemme hairspray.

I purchased this years ago when I went to Subic but back then I was still using a different hairspray (which was an epic fail when it came to keeping my curls, so yes no review on that). What's different about this hairspray from the ones we usually see is that it comes in a tin can and the product that comes out has more "air" than the usual spray bottles. I have no idea how to explain the concept but this is very much similar to air paints.

I purchased Tres Two which says extra hold. What I loved most about this is even though it's "extra hold" it doesn't leave the hair hard which was what my previous hairspray did to my hair.

Climate Control? Honestly, I wasn't able to put this to the test. Perhaps because it's simply just humid or warm here in Manila. Haha! Plus, it wasn't really my concern. :p

So here are some shots when I used the TRESemme Tres Two hairspray when I curled my hair. What I did was apply a little bit of serum and heat protectant before curling my hair with a curling iron and after curling one side of my head, spritz a good amount of hairspray. Same goes to the other side.

Result? Perfect looking curls! And best part? It lasted the entire night! I did my hair and makeup at 1pm for an afternoon and evening event. And I was pleasantly surprised that my hair stayed wavy (yes the curls broke down a little bit but still kept its volume and didn't leave my hair limp and fizzy) the entire night. I got home around 11pm with still really good texture to my hair! Too bad I wasn't able to take a photo anymore.

So far I have used this hair spray when I curl my hair, put my hair up in a bun (to tame my fly aways and small hairs), pat down my bangs and it never disappoint! Honestly, this is the best hair spray I have tried so far. I have already purchased another can for my clients' stash. That's how happy I am with this product. :) How about you? Any hair recos? I have a few more hair products to roadtest and share with you. So stay tuned. ;)

Rating:

3 out of 3 Schnauzers

YELLOWMUM: Robyn's Finally Here!

2013-03-09T11:30:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! I'm back- or at least trying to. It has been a hectic 3 weeks and it's all because of this little girl right here! Help me welcome Olivia Robyn to the world. :)

a day after coming home from the hospital

Yes I have finally given birth! I plan to do a birthing story video soon so watch out for that in my youtube channel if you're curious on what happened. I'll save all the details for that video as I have learned that it's faster to just talk and film than typing. :p

baby's out!

I gave birth last February 19 via C-Section. I was supposed to undergo a normal delivery but my doctor had to do an emergency c-section because of cord coil. Robyn came out 10:00pm and because I was asleep the entire time, I didn't really know what happened (I'm thankful they let us take photos inside the delivery room, so I got to witness the delivery). All I remember is hearing her cry really loudly. I was still quite groggy that time so I wasn't able to react at once.

But when they brought her to me, all I could think about was "wow." Again I was still groggy and kept falling back to sleep so I wasn't really able to cherish the moment. I assume a normal delivery would entail me being able to hold my baby right away. I wasn't able to do that. But they did make her latch, with the help of the nurses since my arms were tied.

last photo in the hospital before heading home

I stayed in the hospital for 3 more days after that and on February 22 we were discharged and were able to finally go home.

coming home outfit

It's so surreal that the long wait is over and she's finally with us. Until now, I'm still fixing my new schedule, adjusting to my new lifestyle. Even with the sleepless nights, ouchy and painful breastfeeding sessions, and all the dirty work, I know that everything's worth it- She's worth it.

Well expect more posts about motherhood. (You can check the following tags: yellowmum, motherhood, baby) I definitely researched and read so many blogs about pregnancy and baby stuff to help me in this journey and I hope to do that to my readers who are also expecting. :)

PopSugar Partner in Youtube!

2013-03-08T18:18:00.000+08:00

This February, I experienced quite a lot of milestones. Aside from giving birth last February 19, I also partered up with PopSugar. I mentioned this briefly in my Facebook and Twitter- that I was updating my Youtube status. I've started fixing all my videos and even asked help from my sister Dane to create my banner and my background. (She still need to redesign a couple of things but I'm so excited to show you what she created.)

I am so so so excited and ecstatic to be a PopSugar partner and with this, expect a lot more videos from me! So I really do hope you subscribe to my channel as I have a couple of videos that are exclusive to my youtube channel (www.youtube.com/msyellowyum). Share the good news! And to all of you who have supported me, thank you so much! I wouldn't be where I am without you. :D

And lastly, to my PopSugar family, thank you very much and I look forward to more videos and working with you!

Lunasol's Spring Summer 2013 Collection

2013-03-08T16:57:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone! Did you miss me? If you didn't know, I already gave birth last February 19. I actually have a lot of backlogs to post, reviews to do and videos to make. It's quite bittersweet that there are a lot of events I had to pass on because I'm still in the process of fixing my routine. Obviously, my priorities have changed and I have to give my 100% to my daughter.

So one of the events that I unfortunately will be missing out on is a beauty-over with Kanebo's guest makeup artist, Ms. Nybie Ng on March 8-10 Rustan's Shangri-La and March 15-17 at Rustan's Makati.

The newest collection is Lunasol's Spring Summer 2013. Lunasol has achieved its colorful purifying makeup and inspired by touches of butterfly to attract people's eyes. The collection will be available starting March 7 onwards. Aside from the makeover, there will be special discounts as well on all of Kanebo's products! :)

I wish I could go but to all beauty enthusiasts, take this chance to try out their products! I'm sure you'll find something you like. Their products are really really good and I'm sure this collection is definitely going to be a hit! :)

Virginia Olsen HD Mineral Mattifying Base

2013-02-17T11:30:00.000+08:00

Yes, you guessed it right, I still haven't given birth yet. Haha! Well I'm already very anxious but there's really no other choice but to wait. I've been advised by too many people to keep walking to help naturally induce labor. So that's what I've been doing. I've been out of the house every single day since last week. I'm also taking this time to try out several beauty products to share with you guys.

One of the products that I tested to review was Virginia Olsen's HD Mineral Mattifying Base. I was given a small sample to try out. I remember they said that this is actually even better than other "branded" ones. Plus it really is organic.

The texture is very smooth; it's very finely milled which is great because I feel like this helps in making it look more flawless on the skin. Also a small amount is necessary to cover the entire face. I used this after applying my sunblock and before applying anything else. This served as a primer.

I wanted to test how effective it is in keeping oiliness in check so I decided to take before and after photos. These are photos I took before leaving the house at 11am. Like what I mentioned, I only used a small amount after my sunblock and decided to use Virginia Olsen Foundation in Shady Lady after applying the mineral mattifying base.

As you can probably tell, my skin really looked matte. No oiliness and even dewiness.

I went to do a couple of errands, went to four different branches, went grocery shopping and perspired quite a lot too. I decided not to retouch anything just to see the result of my little experiment.

I got home at around 7:30pm, so after more than 8 hours with no retouching whatsoever; here's how my fae looked like.

I gotta say I still look okay even though I already looked tired and haggard. Haha! I find that my face is still quite matte which really surprised me to think that my face has become oilier ever since getting pregnant! (Blame it on the hormones, I guess.)

Here's a side by side comparison:

Aside from my face getting darker (I have acidic skin so my makeup normally oxidizes and becomes darker), I would have to say, it stayed pretty matte. So far this is the only product that has done that- to think that it's in powder form! Wow.

I also feel like it's photo friendly too. It didn't give me any white cast and because of the smooth texture of the powder, it made my skin look quite nice too. I'm very impressed and really contented with this product. I plan to purchase a whole jar after I run out. Yup I highly recommend it to girls with oily and combination skin. So far, it has never disappointed me. :)

Rating:

3 out of 3 Schnauzers

Disclaimer: Product is given by the company. All information written are based on my experience and are my 100% honest opinion.

Robinsons Beauty Fair 2013: Pretty in Pink

2013-02-17T00:11:00.000+08:00

Yes it's that time of the year again! Robinsons Department Store together with Cosmopolitan Magazine bring you Pretty in Pink Beauty Fair 2013.

What's in store for you? Let me break it down. :)

For Makeup:

Loreal

P200 off on Lucent Magique and any L'Oreal Paris Makeup

Duration: Feb 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24

Maybelline

20% off on all items P 250 and above

Duration: Feb 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24

Buy 2 lipsticks for P600

Duration: Feb 1-28

Blue Light Sale: 30% off on all items

Duration: Feb 1, 2, 15, 16, 22 and 23

Double points on Empire Cards for every purchase on any liner except crayon liner and brow

Cover Girl

Up to 40% off on selected items

Duration: Feb 1-28

In2It

Buy P 1,500 worth of IN2IT products and receive an “Elegant piece of jewelry for FREE”

20% to 50% off on selected items

Duration: Feb 1-28

ELF

25% off on selected items

Buy 1 Take 1 on lipgloss

Duration: Feb 1 to April 30

For a minimum single purchase receipt of P 599, customers get a free concealer

(dark all mineral blush, all nail polish, tone concealer spice)

Duration: Feb 1 until supplies last

Revlon

Nail Enamel at 50% off for every purchase of the new ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick

Get any of the following 2Way Compact Foundation at P 200 off for every purchase of the new ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick

25% off on selected face products

20% off on selected products

Duration: Feb 1 to 28

Ever Bilena

Free Ever Bilena heart pillow for every minimum purchase of P 350 worth of Ever Bilena, Careline, Pink Water, Black Water, Baby Cussons item

Duration: Feb 1-28

Buy any of the 3 featured Ever Bilena Lipsticks (Matte, Extreme & Prolongwear) for a minimum purchase of P 200 and get a free DEA compact powder (Chestnut shade only)

Duration: Feb 1 to April 30

For Perfumes:

Escada (Duration: Feb 1 – 28)

25% off on selected items

Charriol (Duration: Feb 1 – 28)

30% off on selected items

Kenzo and Givenchy (Duration: Feb 1 – 28)

20% to 25% off on selected items

Kenneth Cole (Duration: Feb 1 to March 21)

Buy 1 Take 1 on selected fragrance

BLVGARI, Ferragamo, Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier, Narciso Rodriguez, Elie Saab

Buy 2 bottles for a special promo price

30% discount on selected items

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

Burberry, Lanvin, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift

Bundling on selected items

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

Marc Jacobs, Madonna, Taylor Swift, JLo

Bundling and GWPs on selected items

Duration: Feb 1 to March 21

David Beckham, NAUTICA + Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue, Esprit, Iceberg, Ferrari

Bundling on selected items

Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Guy Laroche

20% off on selected items

Duration: Feb 15 - 17

For Skin Care:

DERMO EXPERTISE

P 100 off on all special care

P 150 off on White Perfect Laser

Duration: All weekends of February

Buy 1 Take 1 on discontinued items

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

EXCELLENCE

Free Total Repair 5 Daily Rinse Treatment 50mL for every purchase

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

NUTRISSE

Free Light Complete 20mL for every purchase

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

MEN EXPERT

15% off on Care, 10% off on Cleanser and Toners

Duration: All weekends of February

Free Hydraenergetic Multi-Action 8 5mL for every purchase of 100mL cleanser

Buy 1 Take 1 on discontinued items

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

L’OREAL

Buy 1 Take 1 on shampoo and conditioner 80mL

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

GARNIER

Buy Light Night Cream 50mL, get Light Day Cream 50mL at 50% off

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

10% off on Body Naturals

Duration: All weekends of February

Buy 1 Take 1 on selected items

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

AXE, REXONA, DOVE

Complete 6 stickers and get a free couple watch

REXONA, VASELINE MEN, DOVE MEN, MASTER

Buy P 200 worth of products and get a free vanity pouch

DOVE BATH

Buy P 100 worth of Dove Bath soap or Dove Bodywash and get a free Dove bath gloves

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

CREAM SILK

Buy P 250 worth of Cream Silk rinse off products and get a free satchel bag

SUNSILK

Buy P 200 worth of Sunsilk products and get a free tumbler

Duration: Feb 1 - 28

SENSODYNE Repair and Protect

10% off on Sensodyne Repair and Protect

ASTRING o SOL Freshmint

10% off on Astring o Sol mouthwash

LISTERINE

P 37 off on selected Listerine 250mL

Duration: Feb 1- 28

PONDS

Buy P 300 worth of Ponds products and get a free make-up brush set and a chance to win a romantic dinner date with Daniel Matsunaga

Duration: Feb 8 to March 8

NEUTROGENA

Get a free Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser for every purchase of Hydro Boost Water Gel

Duration: Feb 1- 28

SAFEGUARD and OLAY

Buy any Safeguard or Olay Body Wash and get a free bath puff

OLAY Total Effects and OLAY Regenerist

Get a free Camay bar when you buy any Olay Total Effects or Olay Regenerist cream

Duration: Feb 1- 28

Special Moments with SM Babies

2013-02-16T23:25:00.000+08:00

Recently, I was invited to a different kind of event. I'm usually invited to beauty events because I'm a beauty blogger and a makeup artist. I was surprised to receive a wonderful invitation to a baby event. Obviously, my top priority now is my baby and making sure that we have everything we need for her. It's very overwhelming for a first time mom like myself, but thank goodness SM really got it all for us. Even before the event, I have already purchased quite a lot of stuff from SM because of the price and the variety they offer.

SM Babies formally launched SM Babies and the event was held at the Peninsula Manila. Since I was already about to give birth, I asked my husband to accompany me "just in case."

The entire room looked so dainty. I loved the design and decor that they put in the room. Did I mention there were lots of cupcakes too? With my sweet tooth, you could just imagine how excited I was to munch on a cupcake.

The event was hosted by Issa Litton. She looked stunning and was quite entertaining. She's a mom herself so I did feel her sincerity when she talked about moms taking care of their kids and wanting to spend almost every moment with them.

The three endorsers of SM Babies were called to share their baby stories with us. Lexi Schulze, Amanda Griffin-Jacob and Andi Eigenmann were interviewed and were kind enough to share their favorite times with their kids.

They 4 categories of SM Babies: Special Moments were also discussed. They talked about bedtime, playtime, baptismal and party time. SM indeed has everything for all these occasions. And you know what's perfect? They're so easy to find and so affordable too! That's why these moms love SM.

SM Babies put together a photo exhibit called Special Moments. Pilar Tuason, one of the country's most sought-after photographers, shot 14 of Metro Manila's loveliest moms and their little bundles of joy.

Marta Araneta and Tristan

Juana Manahan-Yupang and Rosanna

Tin Dychiao and Xavi

Isabel Olondriz-Murd and Brooke

Maia Martinez-Hing and Matt

Andi Eigenmann and Elle

Rosanna Ocampo-Rodriguez and Alejandro

Delamar Arias and Cooper

Angela Yeo and Helena

Rose and Manu

Nicole Hernandez-de los Angeles and Jaime

Georgia Schulze-del Rosario and Katia

Grace Barbers-Baja and Alessi

Emillie Yupangco and Emilia

Here's my only photo from the event. Haha! I was too busy looking at the gorgeous people around me and checking out some of the items of SM Babies.

Oh and before the event ended, Christian Bautista serenaded us. And I have to agree with what he said, "Moms are the most beautiful women in the world."

Here's a little preview of what SM Babies have in store:

I plan to go shopping some more after I give birth. I'm so excited! Honestly, shopping for babies is so fun! Just look at all the cute clothes and little mittens and boots. I swear, it's so so much fun that I have to really control myself from buying too much. I promised myself to go shopping once Robyn is already here. So I'm looking forward to that! :) Wee! Thank you SM and ARC PR for the invite to this fancy event!

SM Babies is available in all SM Department Stores nationwide. Like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/smbabiesfashion.

Simple Valentine's Day Look

2013-02-12T22:15:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! Was finally able to film another tutorial. I've been quite preoccupied and I've been out of the house all the time. I've been trying to walk and walk and walk to help induce labor. We're so excited to hold our baby but she hasn't come out you see.

Anyways, I was able to film a simple Valentine's Day look in preparation for the upcoming Love Day. My hubby and I actually don't have any plans that day. Our main goal is my delivery so we haven't really thought of Valentine's. Well if I were going out, this is a makeup look I'd go for. I usually prefer a day to night date look because we usually go out and spend the entire day together.

Products Mentioned:
LuLu Makeup Beverly Hills Palette
Victoria's Secret Mega Makeup Kit
K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner in Super Black
Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara
Virginia Olsen Light Matte Bronzer
Mememe Boho Balm in Pink Rouge
Etude House Secret Beam Highlighter
NYX Round Lipstick in Tea Rose

Other Products Used:
Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
NYX HD Photogenic Primer
Snoe Hyperfunction FOnd de Teint + Serum in Ivory Beige
Avon Glimmerstick Eyebrow Definer in Dark Brown
K-Palette Zero Kuma COncealer #01
Flawless Sheer Powder
Maybelline Pur Minerals Compact Powder in B01

Tools Used: Available at http://dreamcollection.multiply.com
Charm Vegan Crease Blending Brush
Megaga Eyeshadow Brush from Megaga 10 Preimere Set
Suesh Blending Brush
Charm Blending Brush from Charm Travel Pro Set
Charm Crease Blending Brush
Suesh Flat Eyeshadow Brush
Sephora Professional Heated Lash Curler (bought abroad)
Virginia Olsen Blush Brush
Charm Angeled Eyeshadow Brush from Charm Travel Pro Set
Charm Stippling Brush from Charm Travel Pro Set
Suesh Retractable Lip Brush

Take note that even though I said that it's a Valentine's Look, it doesn't mean you can't wear this look any day. ;) Do share a photo if you decide to rock this, ok? Happy Valentine's everyone! May your whole year be filled with love and happiness! :D