Beauty

NARS

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:28:00 +0000

Cancelled flights could mean more expenses. I should let Air Phil pay for my Nars haul! LOL!

Seriously, all I ever wanted is to swatch Nars Foundation in Barcelona. Or a Nars Blush in Orgasm. Either of the two will do. But when I got to Rustan's at Robinson's Manila, I was smitten by the lovely salespersons (particularly Marlene) who were not only very accommodating but also offered to do me a mini make-over.

I was so tired at the time and wasn't really planning to buy anything. (Really!). I just wanted to look around and ask a few questions about my shade. I knew that I was a MAC NC 42 during my November visit at Rustan's Makati but wasn't sure if MAC is worth its price. I was on the lookout for another foundation suitable for my NC 42 shade. Liz of Project Vanity suggested Nars Barcelona. I actually had doubts about Barcelona and thought that my shade is darker than Barcelona. Paying a visit to Robinsons Manila (which is incidentally, and thankfully, near the hotel that the airline booked) could potentially answer my long-standing question on foundation shades.

So, I swatched Barcelona, first at the back of my hand, and then on my face. =) Due to my doubts, I protested and asked if they have a darker shade. Barcelona was the darkest in their stock. I was actually disappointed but Marlene insisted on applying Barcelona on my whole face! In fairness, Marlene used a clean and new sponge for me so I was happy while the foundation was being applied on my face. No swatching horror! I didn't look at any mirror while she was applying the foundation and I let my boyfriend decide whether Barcelona was perfect for my skin color. I was prepared to hear it wasn't my shade but I was more surprised when I heard the boyfriend said that the shade is actually perfect. Liz was right! Perfect!

Barcelona, you are mine! In an effort not to spend too much, I took the least expensive among the foundation variants. I'm still young but I could definitely use the anti-aging properties. Haha!

I couldn't let this opportunity pass without trying Nars Orgasm. I've read about it countless times, even up to the point of making an online purchase, but I have always backed out every single time, I couldn't seem to click that BUY button. I did not even have to ask Marlene about the blush. She applied some powder on my face and then automatically brushed some gold-speckled blush on my cheeks, so this is highly-acclaimed Nars Orgasm! And ohmygosh, it's so lovely!

Leaving Rustan's with my haul wasn't really on my plan but I'm glad that I purchased them. It's not everyday that I get the chance to be in Manila and try the product before the actual purchase. Product reviews and swatches will be posted on the following weeks. Stay tuned! (--,)

Sigma Brushes have arrived!

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:19:00 +0000

Photo from Sigma website

I ordered these brushes on December 26, 2011 and they arrived last January 20, 2012. I thought that it would take around 2 months before delivery but I was wrong! I even chose the cheaper shipping fee.

Anyway, I got both brushes at a special deal of only $24! I paid a total of $34.89 for shipping and another P40 for tax when I claimed the package at the local post office. I'm not sure if you get additional 10% off on this as there is an ongoing sale at Sigma.

I will have to review these brushes soon.

Insurance more affordable than MAC

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've always dreamed of buying myself a MAC or an Urban Decay Naked Palette. But these items are expensive brands. Sometimes I seriously feel like I spend more on make up than my health.

I didn't believe in insurance before because I always thought that hospitals and pharmacies would jack up prices when consumers show their insurance cards. But I've had the greatest realization three years ago when both my dad and sister were hospitalized. It was a good thing that we had government insurance that time because it helped us in our bills. If we had another private insurance, we could have saved more from the medicine prescriptions.

Walgreens Prescription Savings Club is currently offering great discounts on their annual membership. If you enroll today until January 31, 2012, you get $15 off on your annual membership - that's $5 for individuals and $10 for the whole family. Availing of this membership would mean that you could get great savings on branded and generic medications, discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies. You will also get bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services.

This insurance offer is way more affordable than the most known make-up brands. Follow Walgreens on Twitter and like Walgreens on Facebook to get the latest updates on promos. We should also remember than investing in beauty should only be secondary to investing in health.

Stay safe and healthy!

Human Heart Nature Boracay Bronze (second chance)

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:31:00 +0000

I first encountered Boracay Bronze when I joined HHN's Morena and Proud Campaign. I used the product in less than a week because I developed rashes on my faces and I seemed to react negatively and I felt itchy when I have it on.

Late last year, I've heard that HHN's line of mineral powder have undergone some reformulation and that rice bran oil was among those omitted. I'm not very sure if it's a good move because I've heard that rice bran oil is a good beauty ingredient.

Fast forward today, I've had my second chance at the new and improved HHN's Boracay Bronze. It still has the same perfect shade for my morena skin and it still has that vulnerable mineral make up attribute that would require you to be careful in handling the product because the pressed powder would break easily. But what really amazed me this time is the oil control. If you're oily and busy like me, you don't want to be re-touching every now and then. I honestly hate having to put on powder in the middle of the day. I once read that using oil blotting paper is actually a better alternative than re-applying your powder. The blotting paper has been my best friend for a while but I kind of got lazy in the end.

Human Heart Nature's Mineral Powder is lightweight but it effectively cubs out shine. I've used it over foundation and used it on its own and the effects are great. One thing that I have noticed, though, is that it cannot effectively cover my blemishes. I'm not really bothered by it right now because I've come to accept my occasional pimple (or two, ...or three) and I can just cover them up with a concealer when necessary.

Another thing that I've noticed is that HHN's Mineral Powder works really well after applying BB cream. I've seen my sisters use HHN Island shell after applying BB cream. Unfortunately for me, my skin tone is a little too dark for any BB cream. My mom and 2 sisters use the Island Shell variant, I'm the only one who uses Boracay Bronze. With an eyebrow raised, sometimes, I feel like I'm adopted.

Simple Sunday Look

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:07:00 +0000

I opted for a relaxed Sunday ensemble last weekend as we went malling.

The tank top is a very comfortable and super soft cotton fabric from Sugar and Spice. I love how it feels on the skin. I also have it in white, pink, black, and apple green. Hahaha!

The skirt is a gift from three years ago. I'm glad it still fits!

On my feet are the most comfortable sandals from Outland. It's just funny that I picked one size smaller than my normal/usual shoe size because the straps were a little loose. =)

This photo was taken during our dinner at Ella Eting's Native Chicken Barbecue and Seafood Grill.

Caronia Touch of Tan

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:30:00 +0000

These were professionally done a day before my birthday. My hands look good, don't they? =)

Got a mani-pedi treat from Hair Signature Salon located at Tionko Street, Davao City. I swear this is the best-smelling salon that I've been to. Mani-Pedi costs P180.00.

Beauty Blogger Fail

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:10:00 +0000

Can I just be a beautiful blogger instead of a beauty blogger? Hahaha!

I'm such a failure at updating this blog. I don't know if this is just a writer's block or due to busy sched, or I'm just being lazy. I still love make-up, I still love beautifying myself, and I still love trying new products but I just don't seem to find time to write my reviews anymore, except when I think that one product is REALLY REALLY AMAZING!

But I still love reading beauty blogs, beauty magazines, and everything beautiful. I'll just wait for that spark to come back and maybe give myself another chance at beauty blogging. Anyhow, new year 2012 is fast approaching! I hope that everybody will have a better year on 2012.

(--,)

Christmas Cheer Mini Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:16:00 +0000

Here's a little something to bribe you into checking out my new blog.

Want to win one of the most basic beauty essentials?

What could this VMV goody be? (Stocking included)

Please click here to join the giveaway. Good luck!

Sale Alert: VMV Hypoallergenics

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:56:00 +0000

click to enlarge

Happy Holidays!

VMV Philippines is giving 25% off on some of their products from November 25 to 27, 2011!!! If you're shopping at SM Malls, you get an additional 10% off if you're an SM Advantage Card Holder!

I'm really excited when VMV has a sale. Hahaha! Happy shopping!

Beach must-haves

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 03:47:00 +0000

I'm not talking about bikini. Let's talk skin care.

I've been spending my weekends surfing and skimboarding and it's not one of the healthiest practices since I'll be exposed to the sun's harmful rays. I mitigate adverse effects by going to the beach as early as possible, like 6:30 A.M. By then, I'd be tired and satisfied at around 9:00 A.M. and actually stop by 10:00 A.M. I am that strict. No more swimming at 10:00 A. M. I am not so concerned about getting dark skin (because I already have dark skin) but I don't want to get skin cancer.

These are the products that I use to protect my skin:

click to enlarge photo
Left to Right:
VMV Armada Face Cover SPF 30
Oroderm SPF 45 Sunblock
Banana Boat SPF 50 Sunblock for Kids
Aromacology SPF 60 Sports Spray

I use VMV Armada Face Cover with SPF 30 everyday. I used to apply my dermatologist's sunblock with spf 45 but it makes my face so oily so I switched to Armada. Armada is light on the face and it doesn't leave me that white film on the face which reflects on photos. I also love that it comes from my trusted brand, VMV. Armada does not give me an oily face as long as I skip the moisturizer. Armada spf 30 face cover doesn't say that it's waterproof but instructions tell us to "reapply every 1 to 2 hours, and after water immersion, sweating, or towelling off. I guess that this is still alright to be used during beach-days but just be sure to re-apply. I wish I could get an Armada Sport SPF 70, which claims to be very water resistant, before Christmas.

Oroderm Sunblock with SPF 45 is pretty heavy on the face and it's not compatible with my oily face. I do love its higher spf but I cannot wear this under make-up because I would look like a greased pan as early as upon arriving at the office. Also, I cannot use a generous amount of this sunblock because of the white residue it leaves on my skin. I still use this for bare-faced days and when swimming. My procedure is actually to wear my Armada right after shower. Upon arriving at the beach, I re-apply using my dermatologist-prescribed spf 45 sunblock. I am not sure if this is waterproof (I don't think it's waterproof) but it's consistency is thicker than Armada, and with its higher spf, I think this would give me more protection in the water than Armada.

Banana Boat spf 50 is what I use for my body. I tried to use this on my face before but I got adverse reactions. I still continue to use this for my body, though. It says that it's very waterproof and claims that it won't run into your eyes. The only thing that I don't like about this product is its packaging. Maybe it's not the same for every tube but I got a tube with a loose cap. I first used this during the whole of my Camiguin trip and I was satisfied with its performance in protecting my skin from the rays of the sun. Not for my face, though. Also, it didn't help much in skin darkening but I didn't get any sunburn when using this.

The last, but not the least, is the Aromacology Sunblock with spf 60. I haven't tested this sunblock and I only used this once during my Bohol trip. I just don't like the idea of a sunblock spray. Plus I think that it's a little too oily for a sunblock. Also, I accidentally sprayed some on my lips and it didn't taste good. Haha! I still bring this with me, though. I think the spray-time is good if you're re-touching your sunblock. It has the highest spf among my lot and I think that this deserves a chance. I don't want to be wasting money so I've got to use this, too. Maybe I'll start using this again next weekend. =)

Do you think I'm too vain to have 4 different sunblocks? What sunblock do you use?

Cyleina Black Pearl

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:36:00 +0000

I got this as part of the Watsons Beauty Hunt Loot bag that I won a few weeks back. It came in this cute packaging with a brochure listing the Cyleina soap products. This black pearl mini soap costs P45. There is a larger version, 100 g at P145, available in Watsons.

the 45g mini soap

Here's what I gathered from the Cyleina website:

Inspired by the rare beauty of South Sea black pearls, Cyleina endows your skin a luminous clarity using premium and safe skin enhancing ingredients:
Collagen supports a smooth, radiant, elastic, and well hydrated skin to slow down the wrinkle formation.
Licorice has anti-bacterial and natural lightening complex for clean and fairer skin.
Arbutin gently exfoliates dead skin cells and inhibit melanin production for softer and glowing skin.
Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant which protects the skin against damage with moisturizing complex for healthy supple skin.
Cyleina Black Pearl lightens dark spots caused by sun exposure and pimple scars . It is effective in lightening dark underarms and inner thighs caused by imbalanced hormones, chemical burns from deodorants  and delays wrinkle formation with its collagen content.
Direction for use:Achieve skin as precious as black pearls by daily cleansing wet skin with CYLEINA BLACK PEARL concentrating on darker areas of the body. Rinse well.
Use morning and evening for a brighter complexion.
Recommendation: This product performs best when used continually.  recommended for darkened mature skin.
Ingredients:Glycerine, Distilled Water, Myristic acid, Marine Collagen Peptide, Licorice, Alpha Arbutin, Vitamin E acetate, Peppermint essential oil

Basically, I am not a fan of whitening soaps. I am very sensitive which makes it hard for me to find the right soap that would suit my skin. Most papaya-based whitening soaps would trigger my skin asthma. Since this isn't papaya-based, I decided to give it a try. Plus, it's small so I thought it wouldn't be much of a waste to throw if this would give me allergies.

Cyleina Black Pearl soap is round-shaped and I don't like round-shaped soaps because they slide through my palms easily. I initially had the goal of documenting my whitening progress but my constant sun exposure wasn't much of a help. I was able to use up this mini soap in a little less than two weeks. I did not have any adverse reactions with it, so it made me happy! Funny, though, because it's black color has gradually faded to deep purple after a few days. And it's even funnier that a black soap could actually be used as a whitening agent. I used this soap up until its very last lather. I like that it did not have that squeaky-clean effect, which actually freaks me out. It just leaves my skin soft and smooth after bath and my skin isn't dry.

Would I buy again? Maybe. The Cyleina brochure has actually listed most of their products and I honestly want to try their other soaps. The Black Pearl soap is actually good in cleaning my skin but I did not see instant whitening results, and my lifestyle won't also permit me to venture into whitening my skin anytime soon.

Trick or Treat! Plus my Halloween Look

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:11:00 +0000

It's Gracie's first Trick or Treat and she donned this outfit, courtesy of ate Christine. She had two basketfulls of goodies when she arrived home. I'm sure she had a good time.

pretty pink wings

here she is displaying her goodies

And now, for my Halloween look:

TWO-FACE

Scary much? Hahaha! I made an FOTD earlier and when I removed the make-up on half of my face, I realized how the concealer(s) have transformed the baggage under my eyes. See the difference? Anyway, I used Human Heart Nature Sunflower Cleansing Oil to remove my make-up. The FOTD will be posted separately.

Feel good, look good!

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:01:00 +0000

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

Is your cellphone bill giving you nightmares? Too bad you can't sue your plan for anxiety and sleepless nights. Do you want to feel The power of Android in your own hands?

The foregoing is a cross-post from my other blog:

The getting richer effect has expanded... by LittleBard95

Switch to Straight Talk and discover how much you could save when your bill is cut in half. You could still buy yourself some nail polish with the money you save, or spend it for some other useful purposes. Straight Talk has great nationwide coverage, clear reception, no surprise charges, no credit checks, and you can strut your new cellphone from the leading manufacturers like LG, Nokia, Samsung, Kyocera, and Motorola.

Feel Richer with Android with the newest Samsung Precedent which is now available in Straight Talk. Get all the apps and games that you need in a smart phone with a smart plan, without any ties to a contract.

The Richer Effect Expands with Straight Talk... - These bloopers are hilarious

Experience the power of android with just $45 a month or $499 a year. That's unlimited calls, texts, picture messages, web, plus 411. And that's zero activation, reactivation, or termination fees. You can also opt for their "All You Need Plan" that can nicely fit in your budget. Choose a prepaid international calling service if you need one. If you're on a tight budget, you can choose reconditioned phones for as low as $10, with camera, mp3 player, web access and bluetooth connectivity. For a more professional and "cool" image, go with the amazing smart phones, touch screen phone, and app-capable phones such as the Samsung Precedent.

Get the latest Samsung Precedent with Straight Talk and free yourself from needless worries. Remember, worrying only creates wrinkles. So go on and start saving on your cellphone bill. Strut your stuff with the latest from Straight Talk to feel good, and look good.

Ciao!

Skin Cravings

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:07:00 +0000

size comparison vs the ketchup bottle

Body Scrub

Body Lotion

I won these Skin Cravings goodies during their Fan of the Hour Promo at Skin Cravings' Facebook Page.

I always thought that these goodies were small in size, I really did not expect them to be a good 300ml for the Body Scrub and 250ml for the Lotion. And yes, they smell so yummy! I haven't found these goodies on our local store shelves but I've already seen their print ads in a magazine.

Funny that once I've opened the package and showed it to my siblings, they asked if they could eat it - specially since the Scrub Me Pretty Body Scrub came in Strawberry, Cranberry, and Dewberry "Yoghurt". The Smooth Over Body Lotion came in Strawberry and Choc 'n Mint Kisses fragrances. I have used the Strawberry variant first: both the body scrub and body lotion. And OH MY!!! They smell so delicious! And I smell so delicious after using them. It wasn't actually the strawberry scent that I was expecting. I love the strawberry scent but I always smell it with caution 'cause it might cause me migraines. It's good that Skin Cravings have this sweet strawberry smell that's not overpowering. It lingers but the scent is light, kind of like you smell strawberry and then you want to follow the scent to see where it leads you.

The Body Scrub has these tiny beads that are great for exfoliating your skin. I was kind of expecting that it would have some whitening properties but I did not see any on its label. Aside from being so yummylicious, it also has a generous amount of beads that would help you in sloughing off dead skin cells. I don't use this everyday. Bear in mind that you must not over-exfoliate to avoid skin damage.

The lotion also smells so great and it has the consistency that I want. Not greasy but easy to apply. Trust me, it will give you that instant lift and added confidence knowing that you smell ~~good~~ great!

I hope that they come up with a Cranberry lotion, Dewberry lotion, and Choc 'n Mint Kisses Body Scrub so that we consumers can buy both the scrub and lotion in pairs, according to their fragrances. That's actually why I chose to use the Strawberry variants first: because they're a pair! =) I'm excited to use the other variants but I'm not done with the Strawberry yet. I will post my reviews for the other fragrances once I've opened them.

I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Skin Cravings Team. When the package arrived, I was so moved that they took time in wrapping my prize "with love". Thank you! =)

TODAY IS THE DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:43:00 +0000

Photo Credit

SALE starts today! Be sure to check out Watsons and SM Department Store for exclusive discounts and freebies!

VMV is also at 25% off on selected items.

Don't forget that it's SMAC sale so bring with you your SM Advantage Card and I'm sure additional discounts would also be given to early birds so hurry and be at SM, 10am, today! =)

Sale shall be from Oct. 14 to 16, 2011.

OOTD: Bohol Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:04:00 +0000

This is how we toured Bohol from 8am to 10pm

TRESemmé Dry Shampoo + $500 Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:01:00 +0000

This post brought to you by TRESemmé. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you used a dry shampoo before? I have read a lot about them and have wondered how this new innovation could actually be a good alternative in cleaning your hair. I have been told by my stylist before that it is alright to skip using shampoo when I shower. When you're in a humid country such as where I am, the thought of not shampooing would give you an uncomfortable feeling as you begin to imagine about an oil slick on your head!

Dry shampoo is becoming popular nowadays. Below are the steps on how to properly use and get the most out of your TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo:

For best results, shake your TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo vigorously before use and in between spray bursts. Lift sections of dry hair and spray lightly at roots. Spray in short bursts, holding 8-12 inches from head. Leave in for 1-2 minutes before styling. Use your fingertips or a brush to distribute product evenly.

Remember: DO NOT SPRAY IT LIKE A HAIR SPRAY (ALL OVER AND CONTINUOUSLY).

Since your TRESemmé Dry Shampoo comes in a spray bottle, there might be instances when the product gets clogged in the sprayer. If clogging occurs, remove nozzle and rinse the nozzle under warm water, then reattach.

What you need to know about TRESemmé dry shampoos:

TRESemmé has a complete line of dry shampoos that revive your style’s look and feel on days you skip a shampoo. These dry shampoos are uniquely formulated to absorb excess oil and remove odor, the full line of dry shampoos rejuvenates hair without a drop of water. With a renewing burst of citrus extracts infused into every product, it leaves hair with a clean, fresh scent.

The full line includes:

o Strengthening Dry Shampoo: The formula, with B12 vitamins and keratin, helps strengthen hair and leaves it full of healthy body.

o Volumizing Dry Shampoo: The formula, with mineral clay and citrus, removes oil while injecting hair with salon-gorgeous volume.

o Smoothing Dry Shampoo: The formula, with Vitamin H & Silk Proteins, refreshes your straight style by removing excess oil, impurities and odor to ensure your smooth look lasts.

o Moisturizing Waterless Foam Shampoo: The formula, with Witch Hazel, Citrus, and Aloe Vera, refreshes your hair by removing excess oil, impurities and odor while moisturizing hair.

Now, are you ready for the giveaway?

Beauty YouTuber Forever Yours Beauty has teamed up with TRESemmé and created a tutorial to teach us how to use TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo properly.

Everybody loves some free stuff. Watch the video above to know how to win a $500 gift certificate from Forever Yours Beauty.

Beauty bar is now in Davao!

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:18:00 +0000

I made a post a few days ago about Beauty Bar being online. Little did I know that Beauty Bar is also coming to my city and in fact, they opened their first Mindanao store here in our very own Abreeza Mall.

They had their opening last Saturday, September 24, 2011. My Burt's Bees Lip Balm is now easy to reach. I browsed their store shelves last night but I was actually more interested with the Burt's Bees products (specifically, the lip balm). Prices are the same with their online prices. But there is one thing that I did not see on their website: Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer. I thought at first that it was the lip balm but I also noticed it to be thinner than the lip balm photos I saw online. When I read the packaging, it was actually a lip shimmer and it costs more than the lip balm. The lip balm is priced at P325 while the lip shimmer is priced at P395.

Anyway, I did not (yet) buy anything from Beauty Bar. And I was in a hurry so I forgot to take a photo of their store (I might have no other proof that Beauty Bar is already at the ground floor of Abreeza Mall but you can take my word for it!). Beauty Bar, I will be back and I am going to buy my own Burt's Bees Lip Balm the next time I visit, that's a promise! (--,)

P.S. (oh yes, there is a "P.S.") Beauty Bar also carries Human Heart Nature Products. It's actually like their "product on the spotlight" because it's the first line of products that you can see upon entering the store. I was not able to make a mental note of their HHN product prices, it would have been good to compare the Robinsons Department Store prices versus the Beauty Bar prices. Robinsons Department Store inside Abreeza Mall also carries some limited stocks of Human Heart Nature Products.

Win a $500 Suiting Makeover!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:02:00 +0000

This post brought to you by Express. All opinions are 100% mine.

Which suits do you love? A certain body type looks good on some particular cuts of suits. In my line of work (I'm a lawyer), a suit is my staple work outfit. A colleague even advised me to keep at least one suit in my office and another one in my car just in case of an emergency court visit.

In choosing women's suits, I always pick the one which I could use from day to night. It is best to wear something you could proudly strut even beyond office hours. Since I've started from my job, I was drawn to picking suits with neutral colors, particularly black, because I know that I can pair it with just about everything in my closet. I looked at the collection from the Express line and I was amazed at the variety of the colors of their suits. I always wanted to pull a red suit, little did I know that they also have jackets, pants, and pencil skirts in purple and green! I like it that they were brave to venture into new colors to break the monotony of neutral suits in the corporate world. With Express, you won't sacrifice fashion for your career! You can even redefine fashion in your profession.

WIN A $500 SUITING MAKEOVER!

Hover to Express sweepstakes to get a chance on winning a $500 suiting makeover from Express! Enter everyday to increase your chance of winning! Contest runs until 11:59:59 p.m. ET on 10/31/11 and open to all residents of USA and Canada.

Which brand of suits do you like most?

Beauty Bar now ONLINE

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:40:00 +0000

I've read about Burt's Bees, Smashbox, Youngblood, but haven't seen those in our local department store or specialty boutique shelfs here in my city. I've read about Beauty Bar and been to one Beauty Bar shop in Manila and they carry a lot of products that women (and female, in general) would surely love.

Beauty Bar has 13 stores in Manila, Pampanga and Cebu. For the cities and provinces not mentioned, don't be sad because BEAUTY BAR IS NOW ONLINE and you can now shop for your favorite items with just a click away. Plus, you can also conveniently pay thru Visa, Mastercard, and...........GCASH! I know a lot of netizens are into GCASH as a great alternative for those who do not have credit cards.

Log in now to shop.beautybar.com.ph to get you beauty fix!

Heart Kristel's Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:55:00 +0000

Want ELF Studio Line products? Enter now! There will be 2 winners for this giveaway. Giveaway ends on September 23, 2011.

Calorie Counter

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:43:00 +0000

Worried about your weight?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you're an insecure teenager, you're just conscious about your health that's why you're counting calories and taking time to review the sugar content of that soda you're about to sip.

Right now, I'm on the process of trying to gain weight after I shed 4 kilos due to my recent asthma attacks. My ideal meal consists of rice and fish/meat. I eat vegetables but not regularly. I usually have fish two out of three meals a day. I am allergic to chicken but I eat a little amount from time to time. I am not a fan of softdrinks and I'd rather choose water over iced tea (really!). I am a candidate for diabetes (blame it on genetics and lifestyle) even without soda and juices because I put 2 sachets of sugar for my cup of coffee and I love sweets and desserts.

I can safely say that I have not been fat in my 26 years of existence (although sometimes I feel fat, I have never considered myself as being really fat). I might get fat in the future, considering that I could become a mother someday, or I might not become as active as I am today, but I do not worry about it. I used to be pear-shaped: my butt was considerably HUGE for my small bust. I had huge thighs which I attributed to my dance trainings. I used to count calories for vanity's sake. But after all these years, I've learned to accept my body and I've learned to live not for vanity but for health. I don't starve myself - I EAT. And I eat appropriately. I exercise and nothing beats exercise. Last year, I tried yoga and it actually helped me get to the shape that I wanted.

Sugar is not at all bad but we all know that too much of a good thing is bad enough. Minimize your sugar intake or at least, sacrifice some to get some. As I said earlier, I love sweets. I love desserts: leche flan, buko salad, and anything with cream and condensed milk on their ingredients list. But I have learned to cut back on softdrinks (regular, light or zero) and artificial juices. I eat real fruits.

Losing, maintaining, or gaining weight is a decision. You won't get what you want if you don't want it wholeheartedly. And when I say wholeheartedly, you have to decide on it, make it as your goal, and work for it. Let me share with you Del Monte Fit 'n Right Calorie Counter to help you start making your decision. Good luck!

The Wedding Guest

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:15:00 +0000

Eyes: 4U2 Glitz No. 06 in Gold tones, The Face Shop in Blue,
Dior Eyeliner in Black, NYC Duet Eyeliner in Mockingbird
Face: James Cooper Cream Foundation No. 03, James Cooper Matte Loose Powder in 03
Eyebrows: Nichido Eyeshadow in Soft Black
Lips: Avon Cinnamon

Yes, those eyebags are real and they won't go away even if I have 12 hours of sleep every night. I've come to accept it as one of those things that I cannot change. I hope I don't sound so bitter. Hahaha! The photo above was taken close to my face, with full flash, thus the color difference in my face and shoulders. Wahahaha! I swear it didn't look too harsh on person but I admit that the foundation was not my actual shade. I didn't use any concealer hoping that the foundation would cover my blemishes and I was actually impressed although some of my acne breakouts are showing.

My first time to try James Cooper make-up and I was a little disappointed that I didn't quite get the exact shade for my skin tone because I was in a hurry in picking the foundation. The cream foundation No. 03 was lighter than my skin tone. But I am not that sad because James Cooper cream foundation comes in 6 shades and if I want to buy again, I know that I should choose one among the remaining shades.

with beau (--,)
Dress: L&M
Belt: a broken neck piece turned into a belt

There are a lot of firsts for this post. Aside from James Cooper, I also used 4U2 cosmetics for the first time. I was blown away by their gold eyeshadow and so I bought the Glitz Duo Palette and used it for this event. Thorough reviews will be done on a different post.

I hope you noticed how my eyebrows have behaved. (--,)

Fanny Serrano + Nichido

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Products in the Spotlight: Fanny Serrano Angled Liner Brush and Nichido Eyeshadow in Soft Black

PRICES: Both are less than $2 each

I was looking for tools to tame my eyebrows. After my eyebrow threading session at F Salon while I was in Manila, I thought that my bad-eyebrow-days are over. But they're far from being over!!! My eyebrows are growing fast and they're growing in all directions! Grrr! I am an avid Evera brown eyebrow pencil user (This costs only P30!!!) but since my haircolor is now turning to it's original black color, I want to sport black brows.

I was originally looking for a deep gray shade of eyeshadow color and I want the ~~cheap~~ affordable one. Luckily, the Nichido lady gave me this "soft black" eyeshadow color. I swear at first I thought this was gray. =D

As for the liner bursh, I had a hard time choosing which brush to buy. I carefully studied the brushes from Elf's studio line, Marrionaud's dual-ended liner and mascara brush, and even those eyebrow brushes with no brand until I eventually picked this brush from Fanny Serrano. I chose Fanny Serrano because I opened its packaging (with the Watsons attendant's permission and assistance, of course) and it was not too soft but not too hard either. Too bad I was not able to feel that of Marionnaud's because of its packaging security measures.

Below are the swatches I took this morning:

One stroke
Two strokes
A lot more strokes =)

I already used this Nichido+Fanny Serrano combo for my eyebrows today but my eyebrows still need some primping. Nevertheless, I'm happy with how my eyebrows look from a far. =)

Watch this

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Balucanag) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:18:00 +0000