Good Morning Most Beautiful!!

"Good Morning Most Beautiful"...

were the first words I said

to her 29 years ago

today!

Meet my daughter

Jeanna~

Jeanna is my beautiful friend, listener,

helper, solid partner, pure gold,

the best sister to my Noel & Brandon,

health adviser,

{her dr. even calls her dr. jeanna},

therapist,

we work side by side in property management,

secret sharer & my first baby girl!

I am So So PROUD of her!

Thank you Most Beautiful one

for everyday you have given me!!

I love you!!

Happy Happy Birthday

Most Beautiful one!!

May all your

special & secret wishes

come true!!!!!!

~~~~

Mauh!!

to all of you most beautiful friends!

~~~

XOX's

~~~

fin

THIS WEEK'S HAULS

My Havaianas and The Face Shop hauls

I've been lemming for this for a long time now. Unfortunately, my size is always out of stock. I have big feet, so when I saw the size 39/40 for this one, I purchased it immediately. Last time I've bought my pair of havies is around two years ago, so I think it's about time. :)

Time to buy a new facial wash! So here's my purchase from the Face Shop. Will review this after a month. :)

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! :)

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: JAMES COOPER MATTE LOOSE POWDER IN 1 TRANSLUCENT

Here's an initial review on JAMES COOPER MATTE LOOSE POWDER IN 1 TRANSLUCENT

PRICE: 799PHP
PLACE BOUGHT: WATSON'S, SM DEPARTMENT STORE, MAKATI CITY
OTHER LOCATIONS: PROBABLY IN WATSON'S SECTIONS INSIDE SM DEPARTMENT STORES

THE VERDICT:

I was thinking of getting a loose powder from Kryolan. But Kryolan's translucent powder has the tendency to leave a tinge of color. So after two trials with TL5 and TL4, I decided to embark on a search for the perfect or at least a good translucent powder.

Cinema Secrets is too expensive. In fact, I'm not even sure if it'll work well, since their concealers disappointed me a lot. CS is not cheap so I can't afford to waste money on something that won't be any of use to me in the coming days.

I was a bit curious with the James Cooper line. James Cooper used to be a famous name in T.V. and magazines. If I'm not mistaken, I think he's a hairstylist and a make- up artist. And now, I'm still wondering where he is and what he has been doing lately.

I was surprised that he actually has a cosmetic line for professional use. I came up to the counter one day and the kind saleslady had a little chit chat with me regarding a bit of info about the brand. She even claimed that Maricel Soriano uses the brand for her T.V. shows and engagements.

James Cooper is a PRO cosmetics line. Their eyeshadows are nice. Has good pigment pay- off, and frankly speaking, quite hard to rub off when I tried removing the swatch from my hand. This line might have promise.

Since I was looking for a translucent powder, I decided to get their Matte Loose Powder. It comes in two colors. Translucent and Brown.

TIP: If you're planning to save, get a translucent powder so it'll encompass any foundation color, so you don't have to spend again on powders to match every single foundation that you have.

Let's now review the packaging.

Remember my endless rants regarding cheap packaging of PRO cosmetics? Well, by far, this is the cheapest. EVER. It comes in a quite sturdy plastic glass jar. But the labels are horrible. The box is horrible as well. Cheap fonts and color. It doesn't even have a description. But at least, the ingredients are listed.

Check out the James Cooper logo. That is not engraved or printed on the container. It's a sticker with the icon's name. It's like, they decided to save because jar printing can be quite costly. Ugh! Totally cheap!

Remember how I also said that almost 90% of the packaging of the Filipino Brand cosmetics are imitated from international brands? Well, this one is no exception.

The jar reminds me of Cinema Secrets' loose powder jars. The size, type of plastic, and all. If you tear off the label from this one and I claim that this is a rejected Cinema Secrets powder because it didn't pass the labeling standard, you would actually believe me!

Check out the label at the bottom. Upon first glance, you can already recall the cult make- up brand MAKE UP FOR EVER PROFESSIONAL. Well, kudos to James' Cooper's originality. He called his company line, MAKE UP FOR LIFE, plus he imitated the font of MUFE. I'm pretty sure someday, another Filipino pro cosmetic line will release a company line called, MAKE UP FOR ETERNITY.

It comes with a puff. But as always, loose powders are best used with a powder brush

As the saying goes, DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. And the same goes for this powder.

Here's the actual product. It is quite starchy, which is an innate characteristic of translucent powders so it won't leave any color on your skin.

Here's a swatch of the product on my skin.

The powder, when blended evenly, disappears into a matte and colorless finish.

True to its name, it really did keep my make- up matte. I've used this under harsh performance conditions where I sweat profusely. And it really did seal my make- up! The foundation and powder ran a bit but it didn't melt completely at all! It does blend well and evenly.

This powder is unscented, so you don't have to worry about perfume harming your skin.

It stayed for hours. And a once to twice of retouching does the trick. This is even at par with my Kryolan translucent powder!

So for make- up artists out there who are on a budget, make sure you always have translucent powders on hand, so you don't have to spend a fortune on setting powders. This is cheap, yet very effective. Totally PRO!

Will I buy this again? Of course! I finally found a cheap, but impressive translucent powder. :)

THE BEAUTY JUNKEE IN THE KITCHEN: QUICK AND EASY FALAFELS

Falafels are famous appetizers originating from the Middle East. It is brought anywhere by Desert travellers because it almost tastes like meat, and it is easy to bring.

The Persian/Mediterranean cuisine is starting to make a name in the Philippine restaurant industry. For the spice loving Filipinos, the exotic flavors of Persian/Mediterranean cusine are perfect for the palate of the Filipinos.

Falafels are deep- fried vegetarian balls that taste almost like meat! It's made of garbanzos, chickpeas, couscous, sesame seeds, and a lot of spices.

I've encountered this food one night, and I fell in love with it from then on.

Falafels are quite hard to make. You need to crush garbanzos, cook couscous, spike it with the right ingredients and spices to create the authentic Falafel. Good thing, there's Casbah for people on the go like me.

So for this edition, let's cook FALAFELS!

I've purchased a Falafel mix from Healthy Options. A box costs 129php, and it can make 24 patties. I've used only half of the mix, which gave me 12 patties. And I'll be using the other mix in my next cooking session.

HOW TO COOK INSTANT FALAFELS

1. The choice is up to you whether you want to make 24 or 12 patties. So if you want to create a lot for the whole family, then use up the mix. If not, use only half of the mix and store the remaining in a cool, dry place.

2. If you've used half of the mix, pour half a cup of cold water. Make sure it's cold. If it's warm or hot, it will melt the mix, turning it into soup. Mix well, until the mix becomes thick and fluffy.

MAJOR PROBLEM: I'VE PUT TOO MUCH WATER! NOW IT'S TURNING INTO A SOUP!

I've used a big glass with half a cup of water. Though I've only put half a cup, the glass I've used might be too big. And, I've used a GLASS, not a CUP. So here's how to solve the problem.

SOLUTION: GET A SIFTER, BOWL AND FORK
- Pour the solution on the sifter. Make sure it's on top of a bowl so the excess water will be removed. After removing the excess water, fluff the batter with a fork and mix well. If the batter is becoming thick and sticky, it has already absorbed the right amount of water.


PROBLEM SOLVED! LEAVE THE MIX FOR 10 MINUTES SO THE FLAVORS WILL SETTLE. YOU CAN ADD GROUND BEEF OR PORK IN THE BATTER, MAKING IT A GOOD PARTNER FOR RICE. SPIKE IT WITH PAPRIKA OR CHILI POWDER, IF YOU'RE INTO SPICY FOODS.


NOW WE'RE READY TO COOK!

A closer look at the Falafel Batter. It has now been remedied and it's fluffy and thick, which makes it perfect for creating and molding balls.

Make balls out of the Falafel batter.

Heat a cooking pan and oil. Make sure the oil amount is quite big for a deep frying session. Each ball will take 2- 3 minutes to fry.

A closer look at the Falafels. Look at the herbs and spices, perfectly seasoned and cooked to a golden brown perfection.

Golden brown, mouthwatering Falafels. Perfect with salads, pita breads, or on it's own! Make sure you make a garlic dressing, yogurt dressing, or sesame tahini dip to make this a heartwarming snack or meal. I did not have the time to create the dip because I realized I was already running late after cooking this. But it still tasted good!

'TILL THE NEXT ISSUE! :)

BEAUTY BATTLES: MY FOUNDATION COLLECTION

For this edition of the BEAUTY COMPARISONS, I will compare all of my foundation products.

Here are my standards for a good foundation:

- DOESN'T LOOK CAKEY

- BLENDS LIKE SECOND SKIN OR IMPROVES MY SKIN TEXTURE AND TONE

- STAYS PUT THE WHOLE DAY

- DOESN'T STING

- HAS NO FUNKY SMELL

- HAS GOOD YET NATURAL COVERAGE

- DRIES QUICKLY

GRAFTOBIAN HI-DEF CREME FOUNDATION (DESERT SAND)

This is an HD foundation. It is actually a good product. It is unscented, and cheap. 800php for a pan. It is a lightweight cream that blends evenly and easily. It is also buildable. However, you can look a bit too made up if you put too much of it. But when it settles on your skin, it looks natural. My only qualm is, it dries slowly. A little goes a long way and coverage is really good. It evens out my skin tone and has the ability to tame down redness (e.g ripe pimples, minor skin redness).

RATING: 8/10

MAKE- UP FOREVER HD FOUNDATION (160)

Honestly, I bought this just to see what the hype is all about. It does give amazing results because when you put the right amount, it makes your skin look flawless and almost perfect. It also has the ability to control facial oil the whole day. However, some shades available are pink toned so it literally changes the color of my skin if I put too much of it. It is quite costly. Price is 2150php (?). Pump is not convenient because it is not controllable. If you have heavy hands, chances are, you can squeeze too much of the product out of the tube. I actually had the mistake and was forced to put all the excess gunk on my skin. Hubby told me that I was wearing a too obvious foundation. I looked at myself in natural lighting and my face looked pinkish and darker! I was slowly losing my interest in the product so I sold it.

RATING: 6/10

PAUL AND JOE LIQUID FOUNDATION N (50)

A lot have been raving about the Paul and Joe foundation line. So you might infer that I bought this just because of the hype. The packaging is exquisite and lovely. It costs 1950php. The bottle can be used as a display or as a container for another liquid. But, it doesn't have a pump, spatula or anything so it can be quite messy when using. This line promises a glowing effect for the skin. The coverage is medium- heavy. The coverage is impressive, but the foundation feels kinda' hot on the face. It dries ever so slowly and can run off within the day if you're in a very hot place, or if you sweat profusely. The glowing effect seemed oily to me. So after two trials, I sold this foundation. I actually managed to solve the oily- look, but the staying power is not good.

RATING: 5/10

L-R: ULTRA AND SUPRA

KRYOLAN ULTRAFOUNDATION (FAIR OLIVE, CONCEALER SHADE)

Another great foundation for professional use. Almost similar to Supracolor but Ultrafoundation dries faster than Supracolor. While Supracolor has a glowing, moist finish, Ultrafoundation dries to a matte finish. It just blends into skin, making it look 100 times better. Ultrafoundation is buildable. So you can go from light to dramatic. However, this is more costly than Supracolor. A refill costs 650php and a palette of 6 can cost around 2- 2500php.

RATING: 10/10

KRYOLAN SUPRACOLOR (W SHADES (PINK TONED SHADES), 8W)

A foundation for professional use. Coverage is very thick. It literally changes the color and texture of the skin. It is sweat- resistant and works very well with any setting powder. A palette of 6 costs 1700php. Has a lovely and light perfume smell that is not over- powering. Contains no mineral oil, which makes some foundation run off of the skin. Glycerin- rich, so it moisturizes as well. Can be a bit hard to remove but it's very efficient for performers who sweat a lot during performances. A palette can contain 6 colors, from the concealer to special shades. It's in a stainless palette. A little goes a long way so the palette will really last the user long. Supracolor foundation is available in refills so you don't have to buy another palette again. However, this can dry slowly, as compared to Ultrafoundation.

RATING: 10/10

BOBBI BROWN SKIN FOUNDATION (WARM ALMOND 4.5)

The best foundation for everyday use. It is very costly. A bottle costs 2450php. It's in a glass bottle and the pump is better than MUFE. It's much easier to control the amount that you pump out with Bobbi Brown's pump. It literally blends like skin! I love it because its the only sheer foundation that gives good coverage! It stays put the whole day, but can run off just a teeny bit in very hot places. It balances the color of my skin tone and it kinda' covers my redness. It's water- based so it's spreadable. It's absorbed easily by the skin and dries quickly. It is unscented, so you don't have to worry about perfume clogging your pores.

RATING: 10/10

LAURA MERCIER OIL- FREE TINTED MOISTURIZER (ALMOND)

A lot have been claiming that this is the best alternative for foundation. I decided to get this one because I'm using up my Bobbi Brown too quickly. It is a tinted moisturizer. It costs 1450php. Laura Mercier's line is kinda' cheap as compared to other make- up brands in Rustans. It comes in the TM and Oil- Free TM variant. I have oily skin so I opted to get the Oil- Free one, since I have oily skin. Honestly, it really acts like foundation, even if it's a tinted moisturizer. It improves skin's texture while looking oh-so-natural.It stays put the whole day, is unscented and it is literally absorbed easily by the skin. At last, a perfect alternative for my Bobbi Brown SKin Foundation!

RATING: 10/10

KRYOLAN TV PAINT STICK

A cream foundation in stick form. Specially made for the television and film. Blends and settles into a like- skin finish, which makes it a favorite tool among t.v. and film artists. It also proves to be functional for theatre performers too! Layer it so it coverage will thicken, and apply a sheer amount for television and film. It can also be used for everyday. Just apply a sheer amount. Lasts long, sweat- resistant, and has a mild, perfume- y scent. The stick will last you for decades! But unfortunately, I got a very dark shade, because I badly needed one for a play. So it's rotting in my stash, waiting for another play where I'll star either as a black woman, 'taong grasa', or something. :p

RATING: 9/10

TOP 5 PICKS (IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE)

1. BOBBI BROWN SKIN FOUNDATION

2. LAURA MERCIER OIL- FREE TINTED MOISTURIZER

3. KRYOLAN SUPRACOLOR

4. KRYOLAN ULTRAFOUNDATION

5. GRAFTOBIAN HI- DEF CREME FOUNDATION

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FOUNDATION BRANDS? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A FOUNDATION? :)

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: LAURA MERCIER MATTE EYESHADOW (NOIR)

Here's an initial review on LAURA MERCIER MATTE EYESHADOW IN NOIR

PRICE: 895PHP
PLACE BOUGHT: RUSTANS, MAKATI CITY
OTHER LOCATIONS: ALABANG TOWN CENTER; SHANGRI- LA MALL, ORTIGAS

THE VERDICT:

I've been having a bit of a problem with MAC's matte eyeshadows. They're very hard to spread and they have the tendency to blotch when not blended right away. So I sold it and embarked on a search for the perfect matte black eyeshadow. Matte eyeshadows (most especially black) are very important in my profession. And besides, it's a basic color in every make- up stash.

So I decided to get LM's matte eyeshadow. It's part of my Xmas make- up loot. Finally, here's what I have to say:

It comes in the signature LM chocolate- brown glazed compact. Pan is quite big in terms of width and the compact has a built- in mirror which is very convenient when touching- up or in any occasion where a pocket mirror will come in handy.

The texture of the eyeshadow is quite chalky. It feels even more loose than MAC's. But what I love about it is, it blends easily. But one con is, since it's more loose, it has the tendency to fall on my cheeks and stain the rest of my make- up. Just make sure you apply loose powder under your eyes so it'll come off without staining your face.

The eyeshadow on moi eyes. :)

In terms of staying power, It stayed put the whole day. Take note that the eyeshadow was tested under harsh performance conditions (e.g. extreme sweating, humid air, and hot lights). It never creased nor streaked! I applied Kryolan's eyeshadow base first (which is a very good e/s primer) then the eyeshadow. Both made lovely music together! :)

Will I buy this again? Of course! I think I've finally found the perfect black matte eyeshadow. It's cheaper (compared to other high- end brands), pigmented and stays put. I'm lovin' it! I'm actually interested to try other LM eyeshadow shades. :)

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: KRYOLAN LIPSTICK IN LFC04

Here's an initial review on KRYOLAN LIPSTICK IN LC04

PRICE: 600PHP
PLACE BOUGHT: KRYOLAN, IL TERRAZO, TOMAS MORATO, QUEZON CITY
OTHER LOCATIONS: YOU CAN ALSO ORDER ONLINE FROM THE STORE THROUGH http://kryolan.multiply.com

THE VERDICT:

I've been wanting to try Kryolan's lipstick line. Being a lipstick addict, I'm always on the search for great lipstick. From cheap to expensive. I am very willing to splurge on lipstick because it's my favorite make- up brand.

I was kind of surprised that Kryolan's lipsticks are quite cheap! During my visit last Monday, I was really looking for ward to getting a black lipstick for my play. But unfortunately, they don't carry the color. But I was itching to purchase a lipstick so I asked what their popular lipstick colors are. It's been a while since I bought myself a lipstick.

The lady gave me 5 of their best- selling shade and settled for LC04. It's a pink lipstick (as always). I'm a sucker for pink lippies and this color's unique and pretty.

Let's now review the product. It comes in a square silver tube. The packaging's quite cheap- looking, which is always my qualm on pro cosmetics.

So LC04 is a warm pink shade. It has a rose undertone which made it look warm. The color is almost nude- ish when layered. But in natural lighting, this lipstick is a great MLBB shade. It's in the matte variant. It goes off a little satin-y at first but it dries to a matte finish.

The lipstick product is kinda' long. Not bad for 600php. It is unscented, but the wax scent is so strong. It could put you off at first but good thing, the scent just fades away after a while.

The staying power is awesome. The color still stayed after I finished eating. It is not infallible since some of the color got a bit wiped out but I can still see that a good amount still stayed. But if you're just drinking, it'll stick, and if you're not using your lips and might have the habit of pressing your lips together, Kryolan will still insist on staying!

I am sooo loving this lipstick! Matte lipsticks have the tendency to dry my lips out. So far, Illamasqua's lipstick line never dried my lips. But Illamasqua's unavailable here and IT IS indeed, costly. But to my surprise, I've finally found the matte lipstick that will NEVER dry my lips out. KRYOLAN!

Kryolan's lipstick line comes in a huge variety of shades from sheer to glitter. You can't go wrong with Kryolan. It's such an impressive line and I'm looking forward to buying more! :)