Product Review: Maybelline Fit Me Anti Shine Foundation Stick

When I ran out of my favorite Maybelline Dream BB Fresh couple of months ago, I rediscovered a Maybelline Fit Me Anti Shine Foundation Stick still unopened from the bottom pile of my makeup drawer. Randomly picked this out on a 50% discount ages ago from Carrefour and totally forgot about its existence, and I had no clue at all how surprisingly good this product is!

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Liquid Lipsticks Confessions

Happy International Lipstick Day, gorgeous! Last year, I posted about my favorite lip products in celebration of Lipstick Day, but today I want to talk about my experience with a product that's become increasingly popular among every makeup aficionado and for very good reasons — liquid lipsticks.

There's no denying how much liquid lipsticks had levelled up since their invention in the 1990's. Its popularity soared to great heights last year, but this year is different. It totally boomed (fireworks and all). With just about every brand releasing their own line and version, we have undoubtedly reached a whole new era of liquid lipsticks. So here's the lowdown on my own immersion with this beauty trend that I really hope would last until eternity, with reviews of some of the liquid lipsticks I have tried recently.

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5 Beautifully Clear Skin Products To Love

Truth is having perfectly beautiful skin is just next to impossible. Even those people loaded enough to afford religious visits to their trusted derma clinics for "maintenance" still get the occasional zits and fair share of skin emergencies. But this shouldn't deter a regular plain Jane like me from atleast trying my best to care for my skin, right? Here are five skin cleansing and moisturizing products which I am loving at the moment.

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5 Summer Beauty Products To Love

There are so many things I love about Dubai, but if there's one thing I'd rather not go through, it has to be summer. It's scorching, sweaty, icky, and always leaves my skin in its worst sorry state. In fact, we've contemplated on going to the beach today for a quick swim, but after barely an hour of being outdoors for a quick grocery shopping, we just had to call it a day and go back home with our beloved air-conditioner on. It's just soooooo hot outside!

Yes, temperature levels could get super insane on this part of the globe, but allowing the summer season to be merciless to one's skin is a complete abomination. You don't want to go down that road for sure. That's why it's very important to be prepared and of course, protected. Here are five of my go-to summer essentials:

Moisture is King

I've listed down my three favorite moisturizers on this previous post, but as soon as the summer season kicks in, the one product that does the job best for me would have to be Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion. The price is a little on the splurge side I know, but it's definitely worth every cent. It's got SPF 15 and also gentle to my sensitive skin.

Lather it up

There are times that I'd like to ditch body lotion completely because it can feel extra icky once you start to swelter, but keeping skin hydrated is crucial in this cruel weather. The Face Shop Natural Sun Milk body lotion is heaven-sent in this department. It's not as sticky compared to others and has a very mild scent that's not overpowering. And the most important part? SPF 40. That alone pretty much got me sold to it.

Save 'em puckers

What's worse than chapped lips? Sunburned lips. Yes, there is actually such a thing! One of the most neglected parts of the body during the summer season would have to be the lips. Fortunately, there are a lot of lip products available in the market with SPF, but I always go to good ol' Labello Sun Protect Lip Balm. I swipe this first before topping it off with my favorite shade of lippie and my kisser stays protectedly safe from the harsh rays.

Spray fresh

I know that it's meant for babies, but I prefer buying Evian Baby Face and Body Spray than the regular Evian Facial Spray just because. Honestly, aside from the added 'baby' to the name, I don't think there is much difference between the two because both have the same product content and also hypoallergenic. My logic is if it's good for babies, then it's good for you too. This spray works as an amazing make-up setter and also cools and refreshes the skin for an instant vibrant glow. We always bring a small spray bottle of this every time my husband and I travel.

Summer scent

This wasn't originally on my all-time favorite scents list, but Daisy by Marc Jacobs would have to be the most refreshing scent ever that's just oh-so-perfect for a casual summer day. I simply couldn't say no to the floral packaging that spells cutesy and sunny. Silly I know, but I did consider buying this at first all because of the daisy flowers-decorated bottle. It's light, feminine, and smells clean like just-stepped-out-of-the-shower clean. Definitely a happy scent!

What are your favorite summer essentials?


Image Credits: Pixabay

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Beauty Haul: Happy Skin Cosmetics

I had a medical emergency in Manila last April which had me stuck at home for almost three weeks, and I'm telling you, my skin (along with my spirits) has never been duller. Thank goodness for sweet family and friends popping by every now and then to keep me company bringing with them not only yummy food, but a lot of thoughtful gifts as well.

My favorite out of all the lovely presents I've received while recuperating was this amazing haul of Happy Skin Cosmetics from my sister-in-law. It's a local brand developed in Japan and primarily distributed in the Philippines, promising a line of makeups which "cares for your skin". I've seen a these cutesy products circulating on Instagram especially among Filipino celebrities, and it really got me so curious. The packaging is a cool combo of wit and pretty that's bound to charm just about anyone.

Here's what was inside my surprise beauty loot:

My eyes instantly lit up when I saw two Shut Up & Kiss Me Lip & Cheek Mousse in Fall In Love and Laugh Always shades, a Get Cheeky With Me blush in Sunset Kiss shade, and an Eye Need A Miracle corrector. Such fun names, right?

I've been in the lookout for a good concealer which specifically targets the under-eye area for a long time now, and Happy Skin's Eye Need a Miracle Corrector was exactly the kind of miracle I needed. My body clock has gone totally bonkers ever since coming back to Dubai, and while I still figure out again how to get enough shut-eye, this product is doing such a great job concealing my dark circles and bumps. It's not heavily creamy, which I really like and makes it easy to apply and blend. Plus, you don't need a lot of this product to cover up those unwanted circles. Just a little goes a long way. 

I'm not a big fan of bronzers nor pink blush, but Happy Skin's Get Cheeky With Me Blush in Summer Kiss shade has got the right tint of peach and orange which is right up my alley. It doesn't come with a brush though, but the staying power of this product on my skin is actually pretty impressive. Use your hand or a brush, the color of this blush looks lovingly subtle and natural on the skin. Win!

My favorite from this stash would have to be this duo of Happy Skin's Shut Up & Kiss Me Lip & Cheek Mousse. I couldn't choose a favorite though between Fall In Love and Laugh Always shade. Depending on the look I want to channel, both shades really complement my skin tone well. I go with Fall In Love, a fun and charming color for an effortlessly pretty look; while Laugh Always is my go-to bold shade for a sophisticatedly elegant look. I love that it is a dual-purpose product: both a lippie and a blush. And did I mention that these lippies come in this gorgeous teal and gold box that looks like a book? This booknerd couldn't be more content! :)

Has any one of you guys tried Happy Skin Cosmetics before? How did it fare on your skin? :)

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Best Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin

My perpetually dry and ultra sensitive skin is starting to feel the horror that this cruel Dubai summer brings. And I'm telling you, downing lots of water and staying indoors with the air-conditioner in full blast will help, but they are so not enough to save you and your skin from feeling victimized by the scorching weather. Fortunately, moisturizers have been invented to keep dry skin at bay. And although there were lots of hits and misses, it's amazing that I've finally discovered my dream team of hydrating creams that are perfect for my sensitive skin. Here's my trio of goodness.

Burt's Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream is so gentle to the skin and it has been my go-to nourishing cream during the day when I don't have to go out of the house. I say this because it doesn't contain SPF. This moisturizer doesn't irritate my skin with its unique formula of cotton, rice extract and aloe. The good news? Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Going natural is always a good thing.

I alternate Burt's Bees with my Soap & Glory For Daily Youth 365 Moisture Lotion during the night. My skin has this disgustingly weird habit of breaking out like crazy whenever I use a certain product daily, so I need to switch it up every now and then in order to avoid zits. Sadly, I spent the latter part of last year suffering physically and emotionally from adult acne so no, I'm not going down that road again ever. I don't do mistakes twice.

To be honest, I only ended up taking home this product for its uberly cute pink box. (Pink with a touch of vintage? Just take my money, please. Haha!) Good thing S&G's For Daily Youth, didn't disappoint when it comes to soothing my stressed and dry skin. The cream is not sticky, instantly absorbed, and also apparently suitable to all skin types. The scent kinda bothered me at first (it has peach and juice extracts), but I eventually got used to it. Don't get me wrong though. This product doesn't smell bad at all. If you like mild citrusy scents, then this one's perfect for you. I just would have preferred if this is fragrance-free, but other than that, this cream works wonders to my skin.

Lastly, when I have no choice but to go out there in the sun, I protect my face with Benefit's Triple Performing Facial Emulsion. This product is oil-free, packed with SPF15, and comes in this clear glass bottle that has awesomeness written all over it. I've been using this for three months now after discovering it through my friend Kim's post on Instagram and my sensitive skin couldn't get any happier. This one's a real winner in my books. Even my husband is using this daily.

How about you? What's your favorite moisturizer?

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My Morning Makeup Essentials

In all honesty, I'm like the laziest person in the morning ever. It would take me hours to get out of bed and would be scramming to get ready on a regular basis. So I usually do away with only a slather of BB Cream, some blush, and lip balm.  But on those special days I manage to get up extra early, I do have a morning makeup routine.

Here are some of my trusted go-to essentials:

For skin prep up: Bioderma Sensibio H2O, Nivea Mattifying Toner, Lucas Papaw Ointment, Etude House Wonder Pore Corrector, and The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX BB Cream with SPF 20

For everyday makeup: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder, YSL Heart of Light Powder Blush, Maybelline Colossal Kajal Eyeliner, Essence Plump No Clump Mascara, and Inglot Matte Lipstick in 425 shade

Really fortunate that a lot of my cosmetics were gifts from my previous work and of course generous friends. A lot of my skin prep up products are mostly available from our neighborhood pharmacy (except the Lucas Papaw and Etude House tubes though).

I'm currently on the lookout for a new BB cream since The Face Shop has just discontinued the one I'm using above. Boohoo! It feels almost like a deja vu or something. Like Missha's Watery BB cream all over again. I've been using Watery since 2008 until Missha decided to discontinue that too. Now The Face Shop just did the same thing to my Lovely ME:EX. It's the only BB Cream that didn't break out my skin and the new one that they released to replace it doesn't match my skin tone at all. I've tried other brands and non-Korean brands, but they are either too cakey, not matching my skin tone, or only made my skin break out like crazy. I guess I'll have to go back to moisturizers then while I figure this thing out.

Do you also use a BB cream? What's your daily morning makeup routine and your go-to brands?

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My favorite beauty products from Chanel

I'm no Chanel expert and I haven't even tried all the Chanel product there is in the market. But I know me, and I know what I like. I've tried quite a few Chanel babies and three of their products stood out to me. These three are the ones that stuck with me.

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour

This is actually a recent discovery for me. I got this as a random gift from my husband. You see, I've been a loyal pressed powder user of this other brand for years, but recently that other brand decided to cause my skin to break out like crazy. Only when I stopped using this pressed powder did the stubborn nasty bumps finally leave my poor face alone. Thanks Lisa Eldridge for the heads up in all of those beauty tutorials for this Chanel range!

The powder is scented, but not that strong. Just a hint of rose which is actually quite nice. The coverage is moderate. Enough to set your make-up and give your face a somewhat glowing pretty finish. And the halfmoon brush, don't even get me started with that one. It's incredibly soft and looks as fancy as the total packaging (hello chic cream case and sophisticated velvet black pouch). It's a plus also that this one has SPF 15, which is a must especially when you live in an eternally sunny place like Dubai. And the best thing about Les Beiges? It doesn't break me out (so far), so definitely a good product!

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-lasting Eyeliner

I have nothing but good words for this eyeliner. It's smooth, waterproof and definitely long-lasting. It glides on gently and perfectly and you don't have to worry of it smudging even after wearing it all day. I've used a lot of eyeliners but nothing compares to this one. An everyday staple! And a slow clap for the built-in sharpener at the opposite end too. So handy!

Chanel Chance Eau Tendre

Chanel launched three variants for their Chance fragrance collection but only the Chance Eau Tendre  scent connected with me. The other two were just too strong for me I guess. Tendre is light, fresh, feminine, and very long-lasting. Truly a happy scent with a combination of grapefruit, jasmine and white musk. I got my first bottle courtesy of a former colleague almost three years ago and have never looked back ever since. Wear this and witness how others can't help but do a doubletake when they catch a sniff. :)

What's your favorite Chanel product?

Oh, and have you guys seen this short film "Once Upon A Time" by Karl Lagerfeld?

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My Desert Cart Experience

During my last vacation in Manila, I got a little obsessed with this little beauty product called Lucas Papaw influenced by my best friends who were raving about it. The product's originally from Australia and slightly overpriced in Manila so I didn't buy expecting that I'd easily find it when I go back to Dubai anyway. I searched for it everywhere (Boot's, Sephora, Areej, and even in pharmacies near our area) but to no avail. Then came Desert Cart AE, which I chanced upon online. It's a website that enables you to purchase from sites such as eBay and they'll buy and ship the items directly to you.

I was skeptical at first to try their service since there's like tons of negative reviews about them. Even their official Twitter account was loaded with unanswered queries and complaints from customers. It was scary alright, but not enough to completely turn me off. I was running my own online shop for three years back in Manila and already used to the dynamics of e-commerce. Most of the complaints were about delayed deliveries, so I figured that's fair enough since the products I intend to buy would be coming from the US and Australia. I understand that waiting is part of the experience. I wasn't in a hurry to receive them anyway. There's also a slight difference in pricing from the eBay website, which I find reasonable. But it's a good thing that they offer free shipping when your order reaches atleast a total of AED 250.

I ordered items that are not available here in Dubai: a handful of my favorite Burt's Bees lip balms ‒ the little life savers, a couple of Elvive shampoos which they already discontinued here ‒ the only shampoo that works for me, and of course, some Lucas Papaw ‒ the main reason of this somewhat risky stunt. I checked out, paid, and hoped for the best.

Luckily enough, after only three days from ordering, I received a text message from Skycom saying that my first parcel from Desert Cart will be delivered to me. Immediately the following day, my Burt's Bees lip balms arrived in mint condition. I was on cloud nine. I didn't expect it to be that fast. It actually worked! The other items took a little longer to arrive though. The Lucas Papaw tubes were delivered I think more than a week after while the Elvive shampoos took forever (almost a month!).

All the items were packed neatly and securely to avoid leaks or breakage. Really impressed with how they took care of them. The only down side was their customer service. They are seriously lacking in this area. As soon as I posted my Desert Cart packages on my Twitter and Instagram, I was bombarded with lots of questions (even complaints) from customers who have yet to receive their orders. I just hope Desert Cart would be more accommodating with all the inquiries of their customers instead of ignoring them, so customers won't resort to asking random people on social media about their orders. So if waiting is not your strong suit or you need the products on a certain date, I think Desert Cart is not the best place to buy them. Some will be delivered fast, but some will definitely take a while.

Personally, it's a good experience overall and I would definitely be using their service again once these products run out. I'm currently eyeing out a handful of paperbacks and lip products. Someday soon. :) If waiting is your game and you want to purchase something off eBay, click here to try Desert Cart AE.

P.S. I was in no way compensated by Desert Cart for writing this review. These are my personal and unbiased opinions based on my own experience of the service, which I paid for.

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Top five scents I love

I am almost halfway through a year's worth of emails. Woohoo! I didn't realize it's been actually that long since the last time I've checked my blog's inbox. While sorting through all the chaos (tons of spam messages!), one short email caught my attention. I've been tagged by a sweet girl named Helene on a My Favorite Things post. I know it's already a year late, but I'd still want to give it a shot. Instead of giving random favorites, I'd just share most favorite scents I love.

Here are my top five favorite perfumes of all time.

L'eau d'Issey Issey Miyake For Women: This one's my all-time favorite perfume and my husband really adores it on me as well. Totally a head-turner! It's floral, musky and woody all at the same time, making it pretty unique compared to other perfumes out there. I absolutely love the hints of peony, lilly and carnation infused with amber and melon. Very fresh and it's a plus that the smell is really long-lasting. I know that this perfume was created to be reminiscent of flowers, forest and springtime, but for me L'eau d'Issey Issey Miyake For Women works best as a winter scent.

Victoria's Secret Heavenly Eau De Parfum: This perfume is very close to my heart because it was my younger sister who first introduced me to this scent. It's a charming mix of white musk, sandalwood, vanilla and white peony that will definitely have you wrapped up in dreams and romance. I'm not a fan of strong scents nor of barely-there scents that automatically leaves your skin minutes after you sprayed, but Heavenly nailed it perfectly. Layering this perfume with VS Heavenly Angel Touch Lotion gets me through the entire day smelling and feeling like an angel.

Clinique Happy Heart: This whimsical perfume was my first love and has always been a part of my life since I was nineteen years old. It's a floral scent with a combination of water hyacinth, Mandarin and blond woods. The scent is quite strong but definitely not something that puts you off. True to its name, this perfume is an instant upper, which never fails to make me remember happy memories of my sweet childhood and fun summers whenever I wear it. It doesn't hurt also that SA's usually shower you with tons of free Clinique products when you buy a full bottle or two.

Flora by Gucci in Gorgeous Gardenia: I purchased this perfume purely for sentimental reason at first. Its fancy bottle caught my eye while stuck inside Duty Free Hong Kong for a layover. My loving grandmother who I lost months earlier was named Flora so naturally I just had to buy it of course. My friend has the perfect phrase to describe this scent: "innocent seduction" and I couldn't agree more. Gorgeous Gardenia is a classy and elegant blend of fruity, sweet and fresh that embraces femininity at its finest. Not sure how this fares on other people's skin, but for me it's not as long lasting as my other favorite perfumes. Still, this is my perfume of choice on a date or a night out.

Armani Prive Pivoine Suzhou: This fragrance is a recent discovery for me. To be honest, I was a little intimidated to try this out in the beginning as I thought it would be too strong for me, but the scent started to grow on me and eventually I have fallen completely inlove with it. With a blast of roses, peony, pink pepper and raspberry at its core, Armani Prive Pivoine Suzhou is really bound to capture a woman's heart. It's truly an inspired, fresh and elegant smell, perfect on those days when you need a little boost of confidence. I feel like a graceful woman who's empowered and confident to take on any challenge that comes my way whenever I wear this.

"A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting."  ― Christian Dior

What's your favorite scent?

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GlamBox ME: Unboxing June Box + Welcome Box

Ramadan Kareem to all our Muslim friends and family from all over! The reduced office timing in this part of the world has given me extra time off and now I'm finally back from a long blogging hiatus. Yay! It was quite a refreshing break actually and can I just say I really miss doing this? :)

Anyhoo, I just wanted to share my first GlamBox experience here in Dubai. Today I finally received the June box (my first out of the six boxes I subscribed to) along with a welcome box and the timing of the delivery couldn't be more perfect. You see, I subscribed to the service last month and totally forgot about it. So imagine my surprise when our receptionist told me I received a package earlier. Such a sweet treat when I realized it's my GlamBox. It almost felt like today's my birthday or something.

I've been reading a lot of reviews about GlamBox for months (a year even I think) and have been contemplating about subscribing. But a couple of my colleagues warned me about it saying it's not worth it, so I refrained from clicking the subscribe button for a good two months. Then came Kimmy, a friend I'm following on Instagram who always posts about the boxes she's receiving. She accommodated all my questions, and when the GlamBox team shared a 20% early bird discount, that's my cue. I just had to give in to my curiosity and join in the fun. Enough lurking! The price of a box is like buying two or three cups of Salted Caramel Budino, only this one's cheaper and not fattening at all. :)

For my June box, I received a Wow by Woojooh Lipstuck Extreme Wear Lip Lacquer in Oud Rose shade. At first I thought I wouldn't like it, but I had a change of heart after trying it on. It's a lovely color with just the perfect amount of pink. Not loud, but definitely not subtle. Just enough to make a statement and it's also matte which is even better!

Another item I got is the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Perfectly Poppy shade. Looks very pretty and definitely my most favorite item from the stash. Except for these two items I already mentioned, the other contents of the box were actually a let down to be honest. 

There was a Yves Rocher Comme Une Evidence Eau De Parfum sample and a Jergens Smoothing Oud Dry Skin Moisturizer sample inside. I would have appreciated these had they come in a different scent. Just not a fan of Oud. Also, the Tatu Bijoux Temporary Tattoo is just not my thing at all. I understand that they incorporated it to probably keep up with the Arabian Theme, but I just couldn't bring myself to like it.

Overall the June box is a combo of hits and misses, but it surely got potential. I am hopeful that the July GlamBox would be able to turn things around. It's supposed to be luxury make-up themed so I'm pretty excited to receive it. I so want it to be July already!

The best part of this first experience with GlamBox has got to be the welcome box. The team really nailed it with this one, and it's free which is even sweeter. When I opened it and saw my favorite Aloe facial mask from The Face Shop inside, I was smiling all throughout. There's a full-sized Nivea body lotion which the husband immediately approved and claimed ownership, a Bioderma make-up remover, a Lacoste perfume sample and a VLCC Witch Hazel and Rose Water face wash, which I have yet to try. This welcome box is really a box after my own heart (if there is such a thing).

Click here if you want to try out GlamBox. It's great for when you want to test out a variety of products first. The size is enough to figure out if a product is good or not before committing to a full size. Plus everybody loves surprises, right? It always brings a happy feeling.

Hope this blessed month of Ramadan bring you lots of good surprises and happiness!

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