H&M Makeup got me SHOOKT! | Review

I’VE BEEN VERY much interested with the makeup line of H&M, though a bit hesitant to try because the brand doesn’t really specializes in makeup. Actually, I was so surprised that they carry almost all the essential items, including the tools, which made me really intrigued. My curiosity started a month ago when I first swatched some of their products and got hooked with their eye shadow collection. But since I'm having second-thoughts about their prices, I opted not to purchase anything yet. 

But then, just a week ago, I finally bought a stash. 

Now I’m excited to share my thoughts (and photos) on each item, and hopefully help you decide whether to include these products in your Christmas wishlist. Let’s get started!

THE PRODUCTS

We shall begin with H&M All-Day Liquid Foundation. Honestly, I ceased on using liquid foundation about a year ago. Since I have oily skin, I find it very uncomfortable to wear liquid bases, that later on melt and slide down my face---making me look like a popsicle. Finding the right formula is really hard, plus, you have to consider if it is the right shade for you as well. 

And this product is certainly a cut above the rest. 

The consistency is like an average liquid foundation. It smells light and pleasant (which is good because I hate strong-smelling makeup bases). The pump dispenses just enough amount of the product, and has a tight-fitting cap, so no worries that it will spill. Overall, the packaging is simple, classy and very handy.

When applied on the face, it instantly gives a flawless, matte finish. Blending using my fingers was a struggle, so I used a damp sponge instead. I picked the lightest shade, which is Alabaster, expecting that it will oxidize after a few hours. Yes it does, but only a little (which is unexpected)---leaving me a nice, natural fair glow. 

This 30 ml liquid foundation costs 599.00 php.

To set the foundation, I secured the H&M Perfectionist Finishing Powder. I opted for a compact powder (since it is more handy and less messy than loose powder) and got the same shade, Alabaster. 

The packaging is in nice white-black combination, that is lightweight and very slim. There's no sponge or applicator that comes with it, so I just used my own powder brush. As with the texture, it is velvety smooth and matte; a thin layer is already enough in setting the base. Observing it after a few hours, I was so surprised that it managed to keep the shine at bay, and it doesn't cake! 

This 9 grams compact powder costs 599.00 php.

Next in line is the H&M Infinite Impact Eye Color (shade is Ingenue). This eye color is super pigmented and can be used as an eye shadow, lower eyelid liner and/or highlighter (pertaining to this shade only). 

The packaging is absolutely nice, though I believe that it won't be able to survive a 'chunky' makeup kit (especially because the cover is made of very thin plastic). When applied, it is incredibly bendable and stays on-point even after a few hours. 

Last, but not the least, is H&M Lip Colour-To-Go (shade is "In a Heartbeat"). I love the color and the candy-like smell, which got me so excited to swipe it. As I applied it on my lips, it was so creamy that it breaks easily. I wasn't really bothered at first, because I thought that I can just twist the bottom part and have more, but no---there was nothing left! *cries* 

I'm so sad that I won't enjoy the product anymore (because it's already empty!), given the thought that it is actually moisturizing on the lips; a perfect to-go lip color if ever.

This 2.8 grams lip color costs 349.00 php.

THE VERDICT

So how was my H&M makeup experience? In general, it was a blast! I will absolutely recommend most of the items that I've featured here (well I only got four *giggles*). But yeah, they literally got me SHOOKT!

The liquid foundation and finishing powder are my top picks! Well I thought that I'll be wasting my 600 bucks on each, but after using them, they shall now be part of my daily makeup routine. What I like about these two products are the following: (1) provide great coverage, without looking unnatural, (2) give a healthy matte finish, perfect for those with oily skin, and (3) very affordable, as compared with their high-end counterparts. 

The eye color on the other hand, is my favorite now when it comes to 'highlighting', though I also use it on my eyes. If you cannot afford expensive highlighters, or just starting out, you can play with this product and achieve close to 'pro' results. Not so affordable, but given the quality, I will surely place my second purchase. 

What I won't suggest for you to buy is the lip color. Certainly not worth your money (maybe if it was priced lower, like a hundred pesos, that I won't fret), that I'll just go for a tinted lip balm. I'm really hoping that they will improve this product in the future, because it has good potentials. Those who are not used in wearing bold lipsticks may opt to go for this instead---but not until they improve it.

That's it for the first part of my H&M makeup review, YES! we shall have a Part 2! There are still a lot of items to try, so please stay tuned for that :) If you have tried these items as well, please feel free to comment your thoughts below! 

"No amount of makeup can make you more beautiful, than being yourself"

How to deal with difficult people

I HONESTLY DON’T KNOW if I could really help you with this common, but dragging problem. However, all that I’m sure of, is the fact that I’m now dealing with some tough souls better than before. As we begin, you must keep in mind that most of the advises I’m about to give you can be too challenging. In the end, please never forget that you command your own life, and no one has the power to make it as unpleasant as what you will allow it to be.

Difficult people are the most unpleasant beings for me. If you’ve read my blog post entitled “Vampires do exist”, you’ll agree that they are truly suckers of happiness. They cause chaos because they feed with sadness, anger and distress. We label someone we know as a “difficult person” if he or she constantly bring us negative vibes, insecurities and uncertainties, which can all destroy our enthusiasm towards an endeavor, and lead to the obliteration of our motivation to seek self-improvement. It is certainly unhealthy to be with this kind of people---they will purposely drag you down; push you to your limits, until you finally lose yourself. 

Good thing there’s a healthier way of dealing with them. Yes, you cannot just run away, because if you do that, you will not learn how to effectively handle such individuals, and they will continue to haunt you incessantly. 

I bet the most common advice you already heard is to extend your patience and just understand. But how can you do that if what you are seeing are tactless beings, filled with guts to offend others through their words and actions? That’s why you must have a reason to understand them; you must see them as individuals who are in deep pain. It is indeed true that the main reason why they are causing pain to others is the fact that they too, are experiencing pain. Bearing in mind that these people are secretly in agony, will make you consider the reason behind their actions. 

Well this is one of the specialties of difficult people: to condemn. It is very obvious that their goal is to hurt your feelings, and one effective way to do that is by judging your deeds. So from that, you must erase in your mind any possibilities that you’ll be receiving praises or approvals from them. What you must develop now is the ability to look at those denouncements as constructive criticisms. In this way, you won’t get affected by their cruel judgments; instead, you’ll find motivation out of those and improve yourself more. Keep on improving, until they see nothing but positive things in you. Soon, they’ll find it hard to say bad things against you---since all of them will just appear to be untrue. 

No matter how difficult it is, try to do them good things. Be the first to offer help, or start a conversation and interact as positively as possible. They may turn you down a couple of times, but keep going. Just remember not to overdo this, or you may look unnatural and trying. Keep things casual, but with a little hint of friendliness, that will soon give them second thoughts about you. And the end of the day, as long as you do good things, you can surely sleep well with no worries in your heart. 

They can be annoyingly unpleasant towards you, but never step down and fight at their level of thinking. Try to respect them; their feelings and opinions, even if they are disrespecting you in return. This can be the hardest thing to do. But this, for me, is the most effective way of handling them. Showing these people that you have dignity and high sense of self-respect, will soon make them question their own actions, to the point that they will ask themselves: Why am I doing this to him/her? You may even influence them to have a change of heart too (I really hope so) :) 

In the end, what we want is a peaceful life. It is sometimes better than being right in front of everyone. If you think you can let these "difficult people" win a petty argument, then do so. Surely, you won't be less of a person when you choose to be silent and give way to others' loud opinions. You are not getting younger, but definitely getting older, so don't waste time dwelling on the negativities---for life is beautiful, you must enjoy it!

*********************

That was certainly one serious discussion tho! *whew* But I'm so happy that I was able to share these thoughts...hoping that my advises will help you survive the challenging days filled with difficult souls. Don't look at them as the gray areas of your life, because they actually give color to your existence---making you stronger everyday!



Spread the LOVE! Live with a loving HEART!

Have you tried Mamala Virgin Deo White Plus? | Review

It took me almost two months to finally write this review about Mamala Virgin Deo. I actually never thought of drafting this post either, because I’m so hesitant to use the product at first. Why? Well simply because it’s new and I’ve never heard about it before. But since a good colleague of mine gave me the product, I shook the second-thoughts and just tried it.   

Starting day one, I diligently applied the product onto my armpits, day and night. The expected result didn’t happen overnight though, neither becomes visible after a few days, but I was surprisingly hooked with it right after the first swipe. The scent is so subtle but lingering, which literally up my mood whenever I use it. I also noticed that my armpits don’t sweat that much unlike before. On the other hand, I was not convinced at first that a pot will last for a month, because it is kinda small. But then again, I was surprised that it actually did! 

But the main question is: “Will it be able to restore my armpits natural color? 

THE PRODUCT

Mamala Virgin Deo White Plus is a product of Thailand, that is manufactured and distributed by Medma Health Group Co. Ltd. Contents of a jar weighs about 10 grams, which contains the following ingredients: Ascorbic Acid, Alpha Arbutin, Allantoin, Gigawhite, Gluthathione, Cucumus Sativus Extract, Emblica Extract, Niacinamide, Pearl Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbedensis Leaf juice and Aqua.

It is actually a white cream that is easily absorbed by the skin once applied, leaving no sticky feeling. 

THE VERDICT

To set things straight, my underarms aren’t problematic at all. Hairs don’t grow on them (which I consider as a great blessing!), and since I don’t pluck nor shave, I don’t have those tiny bumps or "chicken skin". It was in college that I started using commercial deodorants. About two or three years ago, I switched to a popular brand and that was the beginning of an unexpected dilemma. After prolonged use, I noticed that there were areas which appear to be darker than usual. I was so frustrated to get rid of those, so I switched to another brand in spray form, but still no improvement. What’s even worse is that the dark areas are becoming even more noticeable! I cannot just stop using deodorant, because I’m a very active person and I sweat a lot (and for sure, nobody wants to stink too *cries*). So I just waited and hoped that I will discover a product that will help solve my problem.

Then came Mamala Virgin Deo. Trying it was surely a risk, but something that I definitely will never, ever, regret. This amazing product solved all my “kili-kili” problems: no more sweat, no more body odor (even if I forgot to apply it the following day, swear!), smoother skin, and the most important, whiter and brighter underarms for real! Took me at least two pots to achieve visible results---but the wait was never boring, instead, it was truly worth it.

Honestly, I'm not comfortable showing the "before" photos, but to see is to believe right? *smiles* I sincerely want to share this great discovery to all the ladies out there, for this will certainly help in regaining their confidence. Let us be honest once again, though we should be contented on what we have, if there is a way to achieve things that we do want to have--which will make us better than who we are yesterday---then by all means seize the opportunity! 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with improving your physical self, especially if that will boost your self-confidence and up your self-esteem. Solving your underarm problems is one way of conquering a great challenge in your life, and being able to flaunt them can be considered as a great achievement! You won't achieve it unless you try, and you will never experience awesome things unless you take risks. 

I will be forever grateful for Ms. Nel for sharing this product to me. Now, I am in a quest to make this product known, so everyone can enjoy beautiful underarms too! Oh! I forgot to mention that the product is made of natural ingredients, which makes it advisable even for pregnant women and those with sensitive skin. I know you are interested now, so why not give it a try? 

For the wrap: I'm totally recommending Mamala Virgin Deo to my lovelies! A jar only costs 320 pesos (very affordable for a product that is as good as this), which can last for at least a month. Continued use will absolutely show visible results, no more than 3 jars, I promise! But of course, who would want to go back to her old deo? (not me!)

Let us flaunt thy armpits with confidence!

____________________________________________________________

INTERESTED to try this product? 

VISIT @mamala_virgindeoph on Instagram and JOIN Mamala Virgin Deo PH group on Facebook TODAY! :)

L’Oreal Paris Excellence Fashion Ultra Lights | DIY Hair Coloring

Wore black for almost half of the year already, so when L’Oreal launched their newest hair coloring kit at a discounted price, this adventurous lady decided to go light again! 

Your hair color, just like your kilay, can make and break your look, do you agree? Well, jet black is the most common hue for us Asians, and going for something that is lighter is not simply a decision you can make in a sec. You must first know what shade will suit you and what particular product can deliver the desired look. You can always seek professional service of a colorist, but if you are on a budget and prefer DIY, hair coloring kits will be your primary option. 

Now how’s the L’Oreal Fashion Ultra Lights kit? Continue reading to find out :)

THE PRODUCT

I picked kit #03, which is the Ultra Light Ash Brown, and I guess it is the lightest among the three kits. It guarantees up to 4x lighter color, so I’m expecting my hair to appear noticeably lighter. Inside the kit are the following:

1. Protective Serum

2. Colouring Crème

3. Developer

4. Conditioning Balm

5. Coloring Guide

6. Pair of plastic gloves

The product is absolutely user-friendly, since there is a step-by-step guide or instruction manual. However, if it is your first-time to color your hair, you may want to seek help from someone who have done it before. Though I have colored mine a couple of times before, I'm still having a hard time reaching at the back and sometimes end up leaving some areas uncolored. 

Basically, one kit is enough for those with short hair (like me), two for those with medium length, and at least three if it is really long. I started with dry and unwashed hair (but I always make sure that it's clean), and explore the contents of the kit. Carefully following the instruction manual, I did the coloring all by myself and let it develop for 45 minutes.

In all fairness, the gloves do fit the hands! Unlike with other kits, wherein the gloves resemble the one used for digging buffalo wings! yay!

THE VERDICT

I find the formula a bit "strong", because the smell actually suffocated me at some point. But it does wear off once you are already halfway coloring your hair. After washing, I easily noticed the "change" in my hair color. It is indeed "very light", especially on the roots. However, after blow drying, I scrutinized each part and noticed that the roots are visibly lighter than the rest of the hair---which made me sad. The color is not "even" either, which bugs me with a question: "Is it me or the product itself?". 

There was actually an instruction to color halfway through the hair first, down to the ends,  and leave it for 15 minutes before applying on the roots. And I did that! But surprisingly, it ended up like this *sniff*. So here's how it looks like under natural light:

Anyway, though the color is uneven, I still received a lot of comments that it looks good on me, or that the shade is really nice *smiles*. Well, I honestly love the color as well! It made my skin color appear even fairer, and it matches the brow kit that I'm using everyday (not unlike before when my hair is still black, my brows looked unnatural) I can even sport a "messy hair" look any time! I am actually planning to secure another kit and have it applied by a professional colorist, will let you know the result definitely :)

That's it! if you are interested to try the same kit that I've used, it is available at any Watsons Beauty Store for only 399 pesos. Share your thoughts with us! Comment your experience or queries below, thank you!

Always change for the better,

PopTalk Malolos Food Crawl | Miss G on PopTalk!

Unexpected yet overwhelming. 

I cannot put into words the excitement when I received a call from PopTalk, inviting me to be one of their guest reviewers. It was Wednesday night (September 20, 2017) and I just got home from work, my phone rang and displayed a strange number. I answered the call and was so shocked to hear the lady from the opposite line introducing herself. It was so silly of me to even clarify what she just said! 

I had a short phone interview with Ms. Eunice, PopTalk's researcher, and the rest was just crazy. I had only a day to prepare for my first-ever appearance on National Television! It was so nerve-wracking yet thrilling! Since I have no time to decide on what to wear, I opted for a green Forever 21 bodycon dress (courtesy of a good friend, Ms. Wenna) and my fave white sandals from Erin by Etsy. Popped a pair of silver heart-shaped dangling earrings, applied thin makeup (which was later on retouched by the makeup artist) and breathe deeply...

I was good to go :)

In the morning of September 22, Friday, we were bound to the historical City of Malolos, Bulacan. I was with my co-reviewers, celebrity Gil Cuerva and Chef Jerick Manalo, and of course with the show's host, Kuya Tonipet. After a few hours, (can't remember the exact number of hours because I'm chatting with Chef Jerick, hehe) we reached the first destination, Balai Serafin.

BALAI SERAFIN

It is a small restaurant, which actually resembles a house. Though the space is limited, you won't be short-changed with the array of native paintings and ornaments, all situated in a very cozy atmosphere. 

Here's the part of the episode featuring BS:

Below photo was our first groufie! (don't miss our photo-bomber, haha!) Haven't started with the food, yet I feel so full already. A breakfast buffet was served prior to this, good thing I didn't ate that much. Oh God, this is it, the start of pigging-out!

With Kuya Tonipet, Gil Cuerva and Chef Jerick Manalo

Shy at first, I still managed to take some photos, especially the food. Everything is so Instagram-worthy! Filipino food, native designs and relaxing ambiance, what more can you ask for? The whole family will surely enjoy it here. 

By the way, the paintings aren't for design purposes only, because they are all for sale. A large part of the proceeds will go to the natives, so if ever you visit Balai Serafin, make sure to check these beautiful artworks and probably purchase one. 

It was almost lunch time when we hit the road again. They say that lunch will be served at the second stop, but hey, aren't they full enough? I don't think I would manage to stuff more food inside my tummy!  

KALYE MABINI

Second restaurant was Kalye Mabini. We were warmly welcomed by the KM crew, which is simply lovely. Their menu is filled with American-Italian dishes that are surprisingly affordable.  

Now here's the part featuring KM:

Of course my blogger instinct was triggered again! I won't definitely miss a snap of each dish (not to mention that their black tables are so perfect for food flat lays!)

The food was good, but I fell in love with the baked mussels and oysters, they were my instant favorite! Also, I am very thankful that we had salad for lunch, as I really needed something light to get rid of the "umay" brought by the meat dishes earlier. 

At this time, I felt that I'm more comfortable reviewing the food in front of the camera :) Thank you to Mr. John, the associate producer, for being so patient with us, particularly me *smiles*

Are we saving the best for last? Let's see!

It is almost dark when we arrived at Bistro Maloleno. However prior to this, we visited the Barasoain Church and the Museo ng Republika 1899, which was good because I think I've shed a few calories during the tour and digested most of the stuff I consumed from the first two restaurants.  

Now let's get it on again!

BISTRO MALOLENO

"Love at first bite", who said this line? Well just find out here:

The food served to us were all sweet in general, however, the sweetness vary in intensity and accompanying flavor. Though I'm already full, I surprisingly found myself digging to each dish, simply because all of them are delicious! Especially the seafood platter, it was unbelievable! In the end, everything was so "sulit" and "masarap" indeed!

 

After all the eating, my favorite part was giving the final verdict. My "kadaldalan" was put into good use! Thought I'll be saying a few words only, but yeah, ended up explaining further!  On the other hand, I certainly don't want to give a low score though, but I just have to be honest, as I always am with my reviews. Nonetheless, I totally enjoyed the service, the food and everything in between, so definitely "pop na pop" for the three restos!

 

It was a loooong and tiiiiiiring day that I will never, ever, forget. Truly, if you expect the least, you'll get best! Who would've thought that I will actually appear on TV?! And not just a one-liner scene, but a whole episode! I still can't believe it...Thank you so much papa G.

My heartfelt thanks to the people behind the success of PopTalk---Kuya Tonipet and the entire crew. This may be my first and last episode with you guys, but I'm sure that I'll be seeing you again :) And for my family and friends who patiently waited for the episode to be aired, and finally watched the full episode last October 21 on channel 11 (originally scheduled on the 14th but was moved), I love you all!

I am hoping that this won't be the last, but only the beginning of more similar opportunities (yikes!). If you are also interested to be a guest reviewer on PopTalk, simply follow all their social media accounts and interact! Don't force or harass them guys, let them discover you :) Hoping to see you on the next PopTalk episode!

My love from another star remake? LOL

Cheers to more unexpected opportunities...