Happy new year everyone! This is the second installment of my 2016 favorites and now I'm featuring the best makeup products I've encountered the past year. Just to give you a background, I'm actually more of a skin care than a makeup junkie which is why I'm making a disclaimer that the products I'll be mentioning are the best of the ones I've used so far.

PRIMER: Missha The Style Silky Soft Base
I don't regularly use a primer but whenever I feel like I need my choice of foundation to hold up, I always reach for The Style Silky Soft Base by Missha. It's actually a gift from a dear friend who knew I needed a really good primer. I love how this product easily applies on my face and blurs out my pores hence providing a smooth canvas for my foundation. This primer effectively keeps foundation in place and helps keep oil at bay.

Random Favorites

Hey guys! I seriously need a ton of free time to catch up on my blogging. I've been putting this off for more than 3 weeks now due to a crazy schedule. I also notice my phone's memory is getting dangerously low with all the unused blogging pictures taking up much space. Anyway, I'll just assemble a few random things I'm currently obssesing on and make a series of collective reviews. First items I'll be talking about are my everyday essentials.

The Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray has been on my radar for years but I sort of got strayed by other perfume brands that are equally great in our tropical weather like Incanto Shine by Salvatore Ferragamo and Moschino Funny. A little over a year ago, I finally bought one for 50% off the tag, an awesome deal that's too tempting to pass up. Now this bottle, though too bulky to carry around, has never left my bag since I started using it. I love the cool and clean scent it gives off, so perfect for hot days to freshen up the mood. 

Next item I have is the Benefit Hello Flawless Custom Powder Cover-Up in Toasted Beige. I can't help but admire the packaging every time I use this compact. I find the magnetic closure so chic and the large mirror an added bonus. It also comes with a small brush and sponge housed in a separate compartment. The compact instantly turns into a fine textured powder after a few gentle strokes of the brush. It applies smoothly and blends like a dream. It offers light to medium coverage and can cover up minor blemishes. You may still use concealer underneath to amp up the coverage. Staying power is quite decent, keeping your face shine free for up to 6 hours max. 

A recent favorite is the Nature Republic By Flower Wood Eyebrow Pencil. I am currently obsessed with this product because it instantly grooms my brows with just a few gentle strokes. This wonder product allows me to beautifully sculpt my untamed brows and stay that way for hours. I got the #2 shade which has a light charcoal hue. This tool has a spoolie on the other end that works perfectly in smudging the shade for a natural look. 

An all time favorite is the MAC Eye Shadow Lustre in the shade Honesty. This has been my go to eye color for a year now and it still hasn't hit pan. It comes in a cute tiny compact with a see-through top so you can spot the shade right away. I literally cried out after accidentally dropping it on the floor one time. The transparent cover went off but I got to snap it back on like nothing happened. Thank goodness the product remains unharmed. This shade gives off a coppery bronze with tiny bits of golden sparkle. Color pay off is excellent and the velvety texture makes it a breeze to apply and blend. 

Lastly is the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Chunkiest Chili. This lip product is my most recent purchase among the group and it has become an instant favorite. Packaging is pretty much the same with its predecessor, the Chubby Stick. It applies smoothly on the lips giving them just the right pop of color that's not opaque nor too sheer. Staying power may not be too long but I really don't mind since I love redoing my lip color as often as I can. It has a deep berry color that looks really flattering on medium to dark colored skin. 

So those are my random favorites. Let me know if you have questions about any of the products I mentioned and I'll get back to you with hopefully satisfying answers as soon as I can. Thank you for taking the time to read this entry. Have a wonderful day!

J ♥ I ♥ N ♥ G

NATURE REPUBLIC: By Flower Lip Scrub

Hey guys! I've been meaning to tell you about a product I never thought I'd be using simply because I always thought I didn't need one. But after hearing tons of good things about lip scrubs, I couldn't help but try it and see for myself. I was on the hunt for a lip scrub months ago and I had my eye on the Sara Happ Lavender Lip Scrub at Beauty Bar but I can't seem to let myself shell out a whopping Php 1,450 for it. Although Beauty Bar online shopping has a promo selling it for half price off, Php 725 still didn't feel right.

Good thing I got hold of the Nature Republic By Flower Lip Scrub the last time I visited their branch in SM City North. This one is way more affordable at Php 235. It comes in a tiny squeezable tube the size of a usual lip product.

Underneath the cap is a slanted nozzle with a tiny opening which I really like because you get to control how much product to dispense. 

This lip scrub is virtually unscented and has a creamy and slightly course texture. I love how it's saturated with micro beads that a few strokes is enough to make it work. I also like how the micro beads are just the right size. It feels really good when massaged over your lips, very invigorating and not at all scratchy. After rinsing you will immediately notice having softer and smoother lips that any lip product will easily glide on.

Overall, the Nature Republic By Flower Lip Scrub is truly an amazing product. I've been using it 2 to 3 times a week for about a month now and I'm totally loving the results. I haven't had cracked or peeling lips the entire time! My lips has never looked this great which is why I highly recommend it to those of you who don't mind adding an extra step to your skin care ritual. 

That's about everything but if you have any questions, do leave them on the comments section below and I'll get back to you soon. Thank you for reading my post and have a productive week ahead!

Big Girl Pencils

Hey guys! I can't believe it's midyear already and it's back to school for most of us. I was actually in a bookstore the other day and found myself reminiscing the times I spent hours shopping for school stuff. I never thought I'd still be thrilled about pencils at my age but this time I'm talking about a different kind.. The kind every girl needs to have in her makeup stash. Cosmetic pencils have always intimidated me simply because I'm afraid I'd mess up. So imagine my delight when I finally plunged in and realized they're not too bad after all. The top three pencils in my stash are (in order of discovery) The Body Shop Eye Definer Pencil, Nichido Lip Pencil and Nature Republic By Flower Wood Eyebrow Pencil.

RAVE: Nature Republic Acne Clear Patch

(L) Bee Venom Emulsion || Php 695 / 150 ml
(R) Bee Venom Acne Clear Patch || Php 235 / pack

Hey guys! If you read my last post, you'd know that I recently picked up a few things from Nature Republic. I wasn't suppose to get more than a couple of items but their affordable price made it almost impossible for me to get out of the store empty-handed. Since I've used up my YSA Post-Acne Lotion as well as my Kiehl's Acne Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment, I haven't been using any product to prevent and fight pimples for almost a month now. 

NATURE REPUBLIC: By Flower Wood Eyebrow

Hey guys! I recently visited Nature Republic in SM North Edsa to get a makeup item which a friend swears by, the By Flower Wood Eyebrow Pencil. I got to try it for the first time a few days ago and I couldn't let another day pass before I get my hands on one. Well, you know what happens when you plan to buy a particular item and you're surrounded with other awesome products that are insanely affordable? Yes, you tend to buy more.. in my case, 6 more. Majority of these products are new to me so do expect to see reviews on my future posts. At this moment I will share with you my review on the By Flower Wood Eyebrow Pencil. 

BELO: AcnePro

Hey guys! After subjecting my skin to days of sun exposure from a much deserved summer break, I am now back to my usual heliophobic self. I love El Nido Resorts so much that I intend to go back hopefully soon. Anyway, I think I stressed out my skin too much over the past weeks that pimples started showing up all over my face. Good thing I got my Belo AcnePro products from Sample Room just in time to address the problem.

I've been battling acne since my teen-age years and tried a myriad of solutions that didn't seem to work. Good thing it wasn't too late when my mom convinced me to seek professional help. Since then, I've been using anti-acne products from my derma but I still try out other OTC products to see if they work as effectively. This time, I'm putting Belo's new line of skin care products called AcnePro to the test.

STEP 1: CLEANSE

The Belo Essentials AcnePro Pimple-Fighting Gel Face Wash (whew!) comes in a 50ml tube with a flip cover. 

It's a transparent gel that has a very pleasant yet subtle scent. It feels really smooth on application and builds up a thin lather. This gel face wash rinses off easily leaving your skin feeling refreshed. I love that it doesn't sting even when used on active pimples, doesn't dry out your skin and cause skin tightness after every use.

STEP 2: TONE

Next in the AcnePro set is this Treatment Toner housed in a 60ml bottle. 

The cover conveniently flips open revealing a small spout for dispensing the product. This is a clear liquid toner that's unscented and feels refreshing once applied all over your face and neck. I love that it doesn't stain my nails like other pimple-fighting toners I've used. It does a great job of unclogging your pores without causing your skin to dry out.

STEP 3: REPAIR

Last of the three products is the Belo AcnePro Pimple Gel.

This pimple gel comes in a 10g tube with a narrow nozzle for a more precise application. It's a transparent gel that doesn't give off any distinct fragrance. You might feel a tiny sting over active break outs that fades after a few minutes. 

Image courtesy of  skincareorganics.co.uk

The key ingredient of these products is Purified Bee Venom, clinically proven to treat mild to moderate acne and reduce inflammation. I heard about bee venom as an active ingredient in products intended for sensitive and blemished skin about a year ago. It's the latest innovation in skin care introduced by Korean cosmetic companies and I got to try one in a form of a BB Cream from Nature Republic. 

Notice how I didn't rave about this product or even mentioned it in any of my posts? It's just one of those okay products that didn't make an impact and got pushed in the back of my shelf. 

Image courtesy of Sample Room

Learning that Belo came out with a skin care line featuring purified bee venom for acne prone skin made me want to give this innovative ingredient another try. So did it work? Yes it did, most especially on mild blemishes. I noticed how these products effectively dry out pimples and reduce healing time to a minimum. Some of the small bumps becoming unnoticeable the next day while the bigger zits shrink and look less inflamed after 5 to 7 days of continued use. 

(L to R) Belo Essentials AcnePro Pimple-Fighting Gel Face Wash - Php 99.75/50ml tube
Belo Essentials AcnePro Treatment Toner - Php 79.75/60ml bottle
Belo Essentials AcnePro Pimple Gel - Php 149.75/10g tube 

Simply put, the Belo AcnePro line is a decent set of products that you can use to address minor blemishes. It may not be as effective with more serious acne so don't expect a miracle out of it. These are available in leading stores and you can get all three for only Php 329.25! I got mine free from Sample Room and paid only Php 100 for shipping. Last time I visited the site, stocks were all out but you may still want to try other featured products from Sample Room.

So have you tried any of the Belo AcnePro products or other bee venom containing brands? Do share your thoughts by commenting below. Thank you for reading and have a worry-free week!

♥♥♥

NATURE REPUBLIC: Aloe Vera Soothing Gel

Hey guys! I have another skin care product I can't wait to share with all of you, the Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel. I saw this a few months ago and I must say I've been intrigued ever since. I finally got the chance to buy one just recently from Nature Republic's branch at The Block in SM North. 

This soothing gel comes in a generous 300 ml tub which may not thrill most of you. I myself wish for a more convenient container but I guess that won't matter once you experience what this product can offer. 

Good thing they placed a separate plastic lid on top to securely seal the product. I despise having to wipe off the inner portion of the main cover each time so this lid is indeed a great idea. 

You may also return the plastic lid back in place after each use to prevent possible spillage.

From the tub, it looks clear with a very refreshing and clean scent.

This gel immediately gives a cooling effect once applied. It spreads effortlessly and melts easily on your skin. It may leave your skin a little moist but it dries off after a few minutes giving you a well hydrated finish. You may feel a little sticky for a while but it wears off almost immediately after drying. I am really in love with this product. I cannot begin to tell you how I dislike the icky feel of lotions and creams on my skin that I end up not applying such products religiously. This bad habit has made my feet and legs look really dry during the cold weather. Good thing I found Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel just in time to bring back my skin's natural moisture without the greasy feeling. 

Nature Republic recommends several more ways in which you can use this soothing gel but I use it mainly to moisturize my skin. I have yet to try it on my face but so far it hasn't caused me any adverse reactions when applied all over my body. 

This also comes in a very affordable price tag of 245 Php but if you buy a set of four tubs, you will only pay 730 Php, it's like getting the 4th tub for free. It's a great gift for your friends and family but you need to hurry  because this offer only runs until supplies last. 

Overall, It's safe to say that I finally found my holy grail in terms of body moisturizer. I will continue using and repurchasing it until a better product comes along. I do recommend it to everyone who, like me, hate the greasy feeling of usual body moisturizers out there and long for one that feels light yet effectively keeps your skin hydrated. Any thoughts on Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel? Do share them on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have a great day!

♥♥♥