BLK Cosmetics by Anne Curtis | Velvet Lip Cream, Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeliner, CBH Palette | Review+Swatch+Price

I DIDN’T KNOW what was I thinking then, but I just found myself browsing over the website of BLK Cosmetics two weeks ago. It took me almost half an hour to decide on the items to be added in my cart, until I finally picked three products when I checked out. 

Now I'll be sharing my honest thoughts about them, so please keep on reading :)

THE PRODUCTS

I ordered three items out of the seven available products on their site. Below are the products that I’ve purchased and their prices:

BLK Velvet Lip Cream (Classy, pinkish nude) 

for 299.00 php

BLK Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeliner (Black) 

for 249.00 php

BLK Contour, Blush & Highlight Palette 

(Flushed, rose blush) for 499.00 php

Shipping fee costs me 210.00 php. The items arrived after three days, coupled with regular items on my email, whether the order is being processed or already being shipped. 

I first tested the CBH Palette and was impressed at first glance. It is a bit heavy than usual, creating a “feel” that the product is compact or dense. If it is your first-time to use such product, there is a quick guide at the back of the box.

I like that it combined three separate items in one: contour, highlighter and blush, making it so handy. The contour powder is light and blendable, while the highlighter and blush are both pigmented and blends to the skin really well. As I have a fair skin, this palette actually gave me a warm glow. 

This is how it looks like when swatched on the skin. I think the contour powder is somewhat light that it won't do justice in creating looks that requires heavy contouring. On the other hand, I totally like the blush because it has a soft shimmer, making the skin looked flushed yet natural-looking. Lastly, the highlighter didn't "wowed" me, because it's kinda dark for my skin tone, but the pigmentation is actually good and the light champagne hue creates a warm, sun-kissed glow, which I suprisingly love.

Next is the Velvet Lip Cream in pinkish nude. I was so surprised with its texture—so soft and creamy. When applied to the lips, it glides smoothly but somehow doesn’t spread evenly. I still used a lip brush cover the edges of my lips. 

However, I love its moisturizing effect on my lips, while leaving a subtle color. Plus, the packaging is really nice (so classy!), though the size of the actual product is smaller than a regular lipstick (like almost 3/4 of the usual, which make it a bit expensive if compared with other lipstick brands). 

I didn't love the color of the "classic nude" at first, but when I applied it, I notice that it has a shimmering effect---too mild to get easily noticed, but as you wear it, the glow comes out. Certainly not long-lasting, so if you want something that will stick on your lips for hours, this isn't your match. But for me, I've set the "smudge-proof and kiss-proof" criteria aside, because this is totally moisturizing! 

Lastly, I tried the Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeliner in black. It is like a fine tip marker that is indeed easy to apply, though I would love if the tip is a bit flexible. It doesn’t dry quickly after application, however, I noticed that it doesn’t smudge or fade for the entire day. It can also be easily removed using micellar water.

Not complicated to use and successfully managed to stick on my eyelids for the entire day. Another thing is that I felt no irritations or redness along my blinkers; it is lightweight and has rich black hue. Of course, the success of creating the perfect cat eyes still depends on the skill of the user (so practice lovelies!).

THE VERDICT

I have watched some YT videos reviewing BLK cosmetics, some of which didn’t actually recommend the products. But I guess, we shouldn’t be looking at this brand as a provider of high-end makeup products, because they will totally beat their purpose. I believe that the brand started out really well. They don’t need to offer products with the best coverage, the most pigmented or with awesome staying-power, because they are simply trying to cater cosmetics which will just enhance natural beauty—making every application uncomplicated, but out of the ordinary.

I would definitely purchase the remaining items and keep them as part of my everyday makeup routine. They are actually affordable in terms of product quality and packaging. They may not be the best makeup products that I've used or tried in the past, but they are good enough for my daily kikay kit—eliminating the hassle of having too much makeup!

I can't wait to try the compact powder, brow sculpting duo, and the matte lippies! Do you want a one-makeup brand tutorial? Let us have one using BLK cosmetics :) Coming soon!

Uncomplicated beauty, as always

It's Adventure Time with McDonalds' Happy Meal

ADVENTURE TIME HITS the international fast-food chain--McDonalds--again! There are eight characters to choose from when you buy a Happy Meal. Unlike their first appearance as collectible figures, this time, they are more interactive as there are different games on each character. 

Now I'll show you why they are worth the hoard +  few quick facts about them, which all AT fans can relate to!

Jake the Dog

The magical dog of Finn, known for his shape-shifting abilities also called as "Stretchy Powers".

Inside is a tic-tac-toe game, with the faces of Jake and Finn. It comes with a small pencil and score sheet too! I tried playing it with Japs and won twice out of five!

Finn the Human

The 12-year old teenager who fights evil in the Land of Ooo, together with his bestfriend, Finn.

It is actually a maze game, wherein you can change the background into three different settings. Looks easy, but very tricky!

Princess Bubblegum

Also known as Princess Bonnibel or Bonnie Bubblegum. This smart girl is a scientist, inventor and ruler of candy kingdom.

As you peek inside, it is like a shooting game, wherein the aim is to shoot the metal balls inside the u-shaped pockets. Can you shoot all in one attempt?

Ice King

The ruler of the Ice kingdom and the one who always wants to kidnap Princess Bubblegum, so he could marry her. *yikes!*

The game inside is quite the same with Princess Bubblegum. The only difference was the setting and the position of the pockets. 

Marceline the Vampire Queen

She may be a vampire, but her appetite is not necessarily for blood--but for things that are red *spooky*

It is very interesting inside, because you can mix sounds by pressing the three buttons alternately or at once!

Beemo

Finn and Jake's living video game console system, which can also be a toaster, camera, soccer player, chef and of course, a friend.  

There's no game inside, but just a couple of rectangular cards, each with different expression or emotion. You can change what displays on the monitor by inserting a card. I can actually clip it on my bag and easily reveal what I feel for the day! 

Lumpy Space Princess

The stubborn, apathetic, sassy and always-on-the-phone princess. She can float and infect others with lumps when she bites! Yay!

Super cute game inside! Certainly reminds me of my childhood years *sigh*. You just need to press the star-shaped buttons to push the stars  with holes upward and land them on the transparent cones. 

Lady Rainicorn

A female hybrid of rainbow and unicorn. She is Princess Bubblegums' royal steed and bestfriend---and also Jakes's girlfriend!

Just like Beemo, there's no game inside. But it will unleash your creative side, as you bring life out of the colorless illustrations using the multi-colored pencil!

And we're done! I hope you enjoyed this post and visit McDonalds later to grab some of your fave characters...or maybe snatch them all!  

Cheers to those who are kid-at-heart like me :)

Literati Manila's Stylish Cropped Tees + GIVEAWAY!

HAVE YOU SEEN THE LATEST collection of this online clothing brand? If you are always shopping at the Trendsetters Bazaar, you probably have seen them there! 

LITERATI MANILA has truly emerged as a fab clothing line, delivering youthful style and affordability all in one brand. If I remember it correctly, they started the brand by selling overrun branded clothes at different bazaars, until they finally launched their own line of statement tees just a few months ago. 

Now they have launched these lovely cropped tees! And I'm totally into them! Why? simply because:

• They are made of good-quality materials (breathable and durable) 
• The designs are simple, yet trending (There's a piece that will surely fit your mood everyday)
• They are sold at very affordable price (Who doesn't like a tee for less than 300 php?!)

These cool cropped tees are available online, visit @literatimanila_shop on Instagram to view their complete collection. You can also like their main IG account @LiteratiManila for the latest updates on the bazaars they are hitting next! 

I hope we bump into each other at the next Trendsetters Bazaar! In front of Literati Manila's booth of course! *smiles*

****GIVEAWAY TIME!****

And because I love you guys, I have teamed up with the very generous Literati Manila family for an awesome GIVEAWAY! 

Get a chance to WIN stylish cropped tees by following the simple steps below:

1. Like the photo on Instagram
2. Like @missg_diaries, @literatimanila and @literatimanila_shop

3. Subscribe to my blog (button on the right side)

That easy! Winners will be announced on Friday, October 6 via Facebook Live. 

JOIN NOW! Best of luck lovelies! xoxo

Always be fearless in the pursuit of your dreams...

Get whiter and brighter smiles! | AP-24 Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste

STAINS. PLAQUES. CAVITIES. If you have them all, well that is quite depressing. But as they say, these “smile” issues can be resolved, yet thorough efforts in brushing and flossing can’t get rid of them all. Of course, visiting your dentist regularly is recommended, and there are several procedures available in order for you to achieve the “celebrity smile”. However, the pursuit for a great smile may cost you a fortune. Picture it as this: “lovely set of teeth and a bleeding wallet”.  

Ever since, I already have a strong set of teeth, but they are protruded; so I have them braced. Eventually, a better form was achieved. But since I only brush gently for two years, sometimes just less than a minute (because it is really painful, especially when the braces are newly adjusted), plaques form behind my lower incisors. After the removal of my dental braces, another problem became evident---the color of my teeth appeared to be more yellowish than before.



Initially, I was planning to have them bleached, but the procedure is really expensive, so I opted to use commercial whitening toothpaste instead. But sadly, the products I’ve tried aren’t effective at all. Not until I gave this product a chance---and it did wonders for me…yes, it is awesome!

I’m talking about NU Skin’s AP24 Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste lovelies! Been using it for three weeks now, and I’ve noticed that the yellowish color of my teeth has been reduced, it become lighter! Though I haven’t achieved the “super white” teeth yet, I’m still happy with the progress. 



At first, I thought that it is just another promise from a brand wanting to increase their sales…but I was wrong, and I’m happy that I gave it a try. And oh, aside from eradicating the yellow stains, my plaques were reduced as well, now I’m enjoying an almost plaque-free smile. On top of these, I love its vanilla-mint flavor :)

Before getting too excited with this product (and I can’t blame you for that!), take time to read my notes below:

1. It doesn’t offer “instant whitening”. You need to be patient in brushing at least twice a day (preferably after taking meals). 

2. Don’t rinse it immediately. Whenever I brush, I make sure to let it stay for 2-3 minutes, just to let the active ingredients take their action. 

3. You still need to avoid coffee, tea and smoking. If you cannot, it’s fine; since the product can help you keep the yellow stain and plaques regulated somehow. But if you want to get optimum result, you must avoid the stuff that could cause problems to your teeth. 

~THE RESULT after 3 weeks of use~

Interested? The retail price of a tube is 380 Php, distributed only by authorized sellers of NU Skin Philippines (also known as NU girls). I hope you'll try it too, let it do wonders for you! Will be featuring other NU Skin products soon, so stay tuned :)

Smile brighter!

Make Gift Giving Hassle-Free with GC Regalo!

THE BER-MONTHS ARE COMING!! Are you ready for a colder weather and the holiday season? Well, there are a lot of other reasons why we always love this time of the year: overflowing food, endless chitchats, warm reunions, and of course lovely gifts! Getting excited to wrap up presents for my friends and family here!



We all love receiving gifts, may it be simple or extravagant, the mere thought of being remembered by someone is just more than enough. I remember receiving handmade booklets filled with sketches from Mr. J, back when we were just students, they may have no monetary value, however, I treasure them as one of the most-expensive gifts I’ve ever received *smile*.



Basically, receiving something is a lot easier than giving something. If I had to raise a hand for experiencing this dilemma, I will gladly raise both! But real talk, I bet most of us find it extremely (forgive me for the exaggeration) difficult to pick an item as a gift. Considering a lot of things, like the gender, personal preferences, your budget (which greatly affects our choices, to be honest), and a whole bunch of other stuff, we often settle for something that is the result of our lack of time in deciding “which is which”. Whew! The sad part here would be that person, who receives the gift, seems not totally happy with it. 



Alright, here’s the good news: I’m here to help you out! Gone are the days when it took me hours to look for something I could give as a gift, because now I have these FOOL-PROOF GIFT-GIVING TIPS FOR ALL OCCASIONS! Sounds great right? So here you go!

TIP #1: 

Give something that can be use everyday

If it is exceptionally useful, then you’ve given a great gift for sure. Something that could be used in school or office, or even at home, will be ideal. A neck pillow, back massager, or cute coffee mug, are some of your options. Just make sure you pick a nice color and design---stick with classy colors with minimal designs. 

TIP #2: 

Give something that will show your efforts 

If it is for a friend, relative or special someone, make sure to exert a dozen of love and effort. Make a personalized journal, a photo collage, or a DIY project that will remind the person of you. Using your creative head will not only save you some cash, but will definitely produce a unique present. 

TIP #3: 

Give something that could purchase something

Sounds weird? But yes, you can give something that could actually buy something! And that, I believe, is the BEST gift! Why spend your money for a gift that won’t be whole-heartedly appreciated by the person who will receive it? Let’s be honest, we all have our own needs and wants, these are somehow the stuff we wish to receive when we are handed gifts right? But since the gifts are only given out of someone else’s will, we cannot demand, we can only be grateful. 

To cut off the hassle in this gift-giving process and to ensure that the gift will be something that the receiver will truly love, why not give GCs instead?

Oh yes! Gift certificates as a gift can make your life easier! Good thing we have GC Regalo---an online gift certificate store made possible by SM Retail and Sodexo, one of the largest gift voucher companies worldwide and the biggest issuer of gift certificates in the Philippines.

Why choose GC Regalo?

GC Regalo offers the best and hassle-free solution in sending gifts to families, loved ones and business partners in the Philippines through its gift certificates accepted in more than 9,000 establishments nationwide! Whoa! That is totally amazing!


You can choose from their popular gift certificates, which includes:


The Sodexo Premium Pass, which is the Number 1 Gift Certificate in the Philippines. It is the only universal gift certificate in the country, which is accepted in more than 9,000 outlets nationwide! Your loved ones can enjoy numerous shopping, dining, entertainment, travel & leisure options, and so much more!


Well unlike other gift cards and gift checks, the Premium Pass is the most versatile choice, making it the best gift and reward for any occasion. They can buy everything their heart desires with the Sodexo Premium Pass.

Sodexo Premium Pass

The SM Gift Pass (official Gift Certificate of SM Supermalls) will let your loved ones enjoy shopping at the country’s number 1 mall!

This GC can be used in all SM Supermarket, Hypermarket and Savemore outlets for all of your recipient’s daily needs, while they enjoy all the latest sales in all SM Department stores and Appliance Centers as well. Let them catch the latest movies in SM Cinemas or even the IMAX Theatre, and enjoy a fun-filled day at the Skating Rink, Bowling Alley, or Storyland!

SM Gift Pass

  

To order your GCs, head-over to their website: https://www.gcregalo.com/ and choose your preferred gift certificate, it will then be delivered right in front of your doorsteps. Wait, they also have a crazy deal! Purchase 2000php worth of GCs and it will be shipped for FREE! 

I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something from my gift-giving tips. I suggest that you give gift certificates a try, they are very convenient and practical, especially if you're a busy bee like me :) 

In the end, no matter what it is, as long as the gift comes from the heart, given with utmost love, nothing will compare to it. 

Share some love...it is God's greatest gift!

Miss G wears Purple: Visiting the Purple Centers

IT WAS LAST JULY 22, 2017 when I first worn a purple shirt…a color that I never liked, which shall now bring great memories of smiles filled with hope for a brighter future… 

I signed up for our company's CSR (Company Social Responsibility) activity just because a colleague encouraged me to do so. Don’t get me wrong here, I didn't have the intention to join initially because of my schedule---I’m on night shift the day before and on the day itself, so for sure I won’t be getting enough rest. But since it has been quite some time when I last participated in an outreach program, I finally agreed to sacrifice possible lengthy sleeping hours and beauty rest for some charity deeds. And it was a perfect decision *smiles*

As early as 7 in the morning, our team of volunteers hit the road bound to Tondo, Manila, where the Purple Centers Foundation is situated. It was almost an hour drive from City of Dreams Manila and I’m a bit lightheaded for having only two hours of sleep. When we arrived there, I was astonished by the purple buildings and the fact that it is a school---I suddenly missed my students and remembered the years when I was still a teacher. Then I heard the students (kids wearing purple shirts, clothed with their best smiles), I smiled and told myself, "This is gonna be a great day". 

I love kids simply because they are the most honest souls. They will show you if they like you or not; they will tell you if they are happy or sad; their words and actions will express what they truly feel. At first, I was a bit hesitant to squeeze myself into the crowd of kids, but that’s why we were there “to mingle, play, share stories and make them feel loved”. I went to straight to a group of third-grade pupils and introduced myself. We were awkward for a few minutes, but after that, we became like the best of friends! 

SETTING-UP. Kids were excited to go down and meet us!

NEW FOUND FRIENDS. All posed "cute" in this shot. Now who's the prettiest? :)

CAPTURING GOOD MEMORIES. All smiles with these awesome kiddos!

The team prepared quite a handful of games and the kids were all active and eager to participate. The games were mostly educational, which showed how intelligent the students of the Purple Centers are! They also enjoyed the storytelling / puppet show, got both ears glued on every word and laughed hard on the crazy punch lines. Of course it won’t be complete without a dance battle! I am so surprised that they are like skilled dancers at the very young age! From there I’ve realized that this school is teaching the kids more than the knowledge from books, but also honing their skills and molding them holistically. 

Aside from entertaining the pupils, we were also there because of our three main goals: (1) to give them the gift of knowledge (by donating educational books and school supplies), (2) gift of protection (by giving them new rain coats and boots) and (3) the gift of family. Though these things may not seem that much, but they were all given with genuine love. Now after all the fun activities, we all enjoyed some good food, prepared by COD's resident chefs, in the comfort of their humble classrooms. The food that we shared were just ordinary but I wonder why it tasted differently, because it was extra delicious! Maybe because we shared it with the awesome kids *smiled widely*

ALL EARS. The kids really paid attention to the storytelling / puppet show prepared by the Tables Games team. 

READY, SET,GO! Played the good 'ol "The boat is sinking" game and all went crazy!

PUZZLE GAME. Busy bees race to complete the image of a popular tourist site.

COLORFUL RAINCOATS. The kids received their cute rain shields with matching rain boots!

YUM YUM! Joined the kids for lunch. We were as hungry as dinosaurs!

As we bid goodbye, I’m surprised to receive tight hugs and warm kisses from the group of pupils I was with. They didn’t cease in uttering “Thank You” and was begging me to visit them again. For a moment they made me appreciate life more, for I have more compared to them, yet they seem to love life and enjoy living their lives more than I do. Most of them touched only a little of their food, because they preferred to share those with their family. Some, when asked, told us that they will be sharing all the gifts they received to their younger siblings. They hugged each packs tightly and smiled widely, like they have received the greatest gift ever. I am so thankful for this humbling encounter, it made me look into my plate, tilt my head up and thank Him. 

At times when you feel like you don’t have enough, when you are comparing your life with that of others, when you are frustrated that you are not becoming what you want to be, go out and seek places like this---You’ll find contentment. Me, I tend to aspire more, I always strive to be something or someone everyone would admire, I continuously seek the best in everything…but that’s not how it should be. As I look at this people, living simple lives, I’ve realized that life is too short to worry, what you must constantly do is just appreciate every bits of it---Let life surprise you. 

FAMILY PHOTO. We are now a one big happy "family"! Thank you to the pupils, teachers and administrators!

I came there without anything on my hand, just my willingness to volunteer. You may not have the capacity to give material things to the less fortunate, but you will always have the best thing that could do wonders in someone’s life: LOVE. 

Share some love, be a volunteer!