If you're as forgetful as I am, I bet you've collected a number of eco bags in different colors and style from several establishments. Not that I don't like them, I'm actually impressed with the sturdy material and trendy colors of these bags that I don't regret buying them whenever I feel the need to. But there are times when I feel a little guilty about buying another eco bag when I already have so much of them in my closet. Like a few days ago when I dropped by the mall just to window shop but ended up going home with these..

Such days when you unexpectedly buy more than a few stuff make you want to routinely bring an eco bag with you everyday. I was just planning to look around and get some gift ideas for my family but I couldn't resist buying items on sale.

Well these weren't on sale but I had to get the Floria Cleansing Oil because I ran out of the Shu Uemura samples from Sample Room and the full size is way too expensive. I also got the Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint 03 which is usually out of stock because they're so much in demand. So if you haven't tried this small lip wonder in a pot, go get yourself one while they're available. They also gave me 2 free sachets of Clean Dew Broccoli Sprout Cleansing Cream which I intend to try out soon so don't miss out on my upcoming review and add me to your reading list.

If you've been reading my previous posts, I mentioned about giving this Hello Kitty nail clippers to my friends. They ran out of stocks in Sanrio SM North last November so I had to go back and buy one for myself. 

I went to EO and got myself 2 pairs of colored lenses from Flex Wear Enhance at 20% discount and they generously pitched in 2 lens cases for free. I like Dali brown better because of its subtle shade that goes almost unnoticed so it looks really natural when worn compared to toast brown.

This picture doesn't give justice to these lovely fresh water pearl earrings. I love that pearl earrings are timeless and can be worn in any occasion.

These were freshly displayed at Seiko in SM North and you wouldn't believe the tag. They're way cheaper than the others yet they look great. The box doubles as a coin bank and the pink watch also comes with a small magnetic alarm clock.

Last but certainly not the least, I got gifts for my mom. A chiffon blouse printed with blue flowers and a cream polo shirt. I got them wrapped at the mall for free so I didn't have the chance to take pictures. 

Obviously I needed the eco bag to carry everything home. By the way, I rediscovered a favorite beauty guru in You Tube, Miss Michelle Phan and I got inspired by her work that I decided to play with imovie and make a new video about this entry. I hope you like it, please bear with me on this because I'm still in the process of learning how to make videos. I will appreciate your comments if you have any so feel free to use the comments section below. Happy new year everyone!

Holiday Lippies Mini Haul + Review

Like most Manila dwellers, I've been feeling the holidays in different forms such as scarcity of unoccupied cabs, crowded malls and heavy traffic. Despite these unpleasant reminders, I love the way Pinoys have the ability of blurring out the negative things and focus on the ones that make this season worth celebrating like having the time to spend with loved ones and rekindling our faith 

through "simbang gabi" (mindnight mass). 

It's also during this season that we start enjoying different Christmas treats such as mall wide sales, eating puto bumbong or bibingka (rice cake) and the most fun part, receiving gifts. 

They say that a gift doesn't only reflect the giver but it also says a lot about the recipient. For me, most of the gifts I got are makeup related (as expected) so you could just imagine my delight each time I open a present.

  

Most of the makeup related gifts I got are lip products including Etude House Apricot Stick, Cover Girl Shineblast lipgloss and Marks & Spencer Hello Kitty lipgloss set.

The Marks & Spencer Hello Kitty lipgloss set comes in different shades, Blueberry Gloss has a bright pink hue, Cherry Heaven is velvety red, Glitter Gloss is clear but filled with tiny multicolored sparkles and Strawberry Shine which has an old rose shade. These actually remind me of Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss. Since I haven't opened this yet, I'm only describing the colors as I see them on the clear tubes. Don't expect them to have the exact same shade when worn because they're just glosses and not tinted lip products. I'll keep you posted when I get to open 

and try these.

The Cover Girl Shineblast has a peach almost neutral color. I haven't used it but I'll update you soon how it looks when applied. 

Among these lip products given to me, Etude's Apricot Stick is the one I got to use. I was super excited to try it because it's my very first product from Etude. I've heard a lot of great things about Etude, good thing this Apricot Stick didn't fail to meet my expectations. 

It comes in a pen type container which basically works like a classic lip gloss where the bottom can be twisted clockwise to reveal the stick. I love that the stick is slim enough to reach either corners of my lips. It has a pleasant fruity scent 

and has a faint sweet taste. 

It glides smoothly on your lips leaving a hint of flush that looks a little shiny but not greasy or glittery. The color is more sheer than Revlon lip butters but it stains more compared to a regular lip gloss. It's also very hydrating and has average staying power which I don't really mind because retouching is so easy. 

Overall, I love this Etude House Apricot Stick that I intend to buy one for myself when this runs out. I also recommend this to anyone who would love to try a very nice lipgloss which can be worn alone or on top of your favorite lip color. 

♥ ♥ ♥

NOTES:

• I got an SMS from BDJ saying that the December box is due for delivery on the 2nd week of January and will actually be considered as December-January box. I think it's quite disappointing especially since I've been expecting it to be delivered before new year.
• I am LOVING Pinterest so much. I'm getting tons of ideas about all sorts of things.
• I registered as a member of Michelle Phan's website and I'm loving her Christmas giveaways. I just hope I win.. :)

Season's Greetings

I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for taking the time to read my blog. You've been so kind with your comments and suggestions. You've inspired me to be true to myself and speak my mind freely through my rantings. I may not be an expert on skin and hair care products but you still continue reading my reviews and even consider my suggestions. There are no words that can accurately describe how I feel whenever I see my blog's increasing number of unique visits and total views each day.

Again, my sincerest gratitude to all of you and may you have a happy holiday with your loved ones!

♥♥♥

CLINIQUE: Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector

Hey everyone! I've always loved watching the series Sex in the City on HBO. I enjoyed the fearless take of Darren Star on all issues concerning women. I remember one scene with Charlotte (Kristin Davis) when she was looking at herself on the mirror checking every pore on her face. I couldn't relate back then because I didn't have any problems with mine. It was only recently that I became conscious of their existence. Luckily, with the evolution of skin care products in the past years, different corrective measures have been introduced by a lot of companies.

Though there is an array of pore refining brands in the market, I never bought one until a few months ago. I got the Clinique pore refining solutions instant perfector in order to avail of the bonus time. 

The Clinique pore refining solutions instant perfector comes in a 

15 ml squeeze type tube. 

The texture is comparable to a thick cream that glides smoothly on application although I feel the need to apply more because it instantly blends with your skin surface. It gives your face a velvety smooth finish. My facial pores are still visible but noticeably smaller after a layer of this product leaving a natural looking 

matte finish that lasts for hours. 

Notice on the image above how it instantly removed the shine on my skin and reduced visible lines. After using this for almost a month it didn't irritate my skin or cause any break outs. I usually apply this before BB cream and they seem to work well together. 

The greatest draw back for this product is the price (PhP 1,500). It's quite expensive for just a 15 ml product that can't give you a finished look on its own. 

Overall, I do love this product and I recommend it to those of you who are willing to invest on a perfect primer that can instantly make your face look smooth and your pores less noticeable. But if you're on a tight budget, this might not be the best product for you. I won't be buying more of this after I run out but I'll be keeping my radar on for other products that can deliver the same benefits at a more affordable price.

♥♥♥

Wish Box

Hi everyone! I've been thinking of a year end special entry and I thought of doing Mykikaystuff 2012 Favorites by having a run down of my top products from different categories. But when beauty boxes emerged and became talk of the town since October of this year, I've been thinking what would it be like if I was to create my own beauty box. So I decided to do just that! Hold your horses, I'm not doing this for real. I just want you to know what products I would love to include in a beauty box if I were to make one.

Just a heads up, products I've assembled in this imaginary box may be a little over the top since most of them are my ultimate favorites. I call it Wish Box, very appropriate for it contains every product a girl like me would wish for.

This box originally contains a set of perfume and lotion from Gilly Hicks. I just positioned the bow to cover the label and made my own using the A+ Signature app from my Ipad.

Since this is just a make believe box, I went all out and included all the stuff I use on a regular basis and some that I think are worth mentioning. If you're subscribed to BDJ Box or Saladbox or have seen reviews on them, you would notice that none of the products in my Wish Box have been included in any of them.

This might also serve as a suggestion box so people behind these beauty boxes may have an idea on what other products we subscribers wish to recieve every month.

I assembled this Wish Box keeping in mind that I can include any product I like. So I reviewed my daily routine and chose the products as I would use them.

The Shu Uemura Whitefficient cleansing oil is a recent favorite and has become a mainstay in my daily routine. I got to try this via Sample Room and I've been hooked since then. It effectively removes all traces of makeup and accumulated dirt leaving your skin fully cleansed and feeling supple without being greasy.

Clinique mild liquid facial soap is one of my favorite facial cleansers because it truly matches my dry combination skin type. It adequately cleanses without drying your skin and leaves it feeling fresh and dirt free. 

The Floria Hydra Energy toner is one of the best products of Tony Moly. This watery gel type toner removes remaining dirt after cleansing your face. It doesn't dry your skin, instead it locks in moisture hence improving skin texture.

Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion maintains optimal moisture for dry and dry combination skin leaving it feeling soft and smooth. It doesn't cause any skin irritation or break outs. True to its name, this moisturizer dramatically improves your skin with continued use.

Celeteque DermoScience Brightening Eye Tuck plus Dark Circles Lightener instantly hydrates the skin around your eyes leaving them moisturized without looking puffy. It lightens your under eye giving it a brighter appearance. It's mild enough to use everyday and it promises to deliver results in 4 weeks. I actually got it free from Sample Room, you may click here for a detailed review.

Garnier Pure Active anti-imperfections roll-on is ideal for acne prone skin because it has antibacterial ingredients that can fight emerging and active pimples. It also has dual action formula that can eliminate blackheads and remove skin imperfections. I use this on emerging and active pimples because they dry faster and don't darken as much. 

Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream sits at the top of my list among the array of BB creams I've used. It glides smoothly on application and blends well with your complexion. It has a creamy texture that doesn't cake over time. It provides medium coverage and it leaves your skin with a bright dewy finish. Click here to see my previous review.

The Body Shop all-in-one face base has a fine texture that feels light and comfortable on your skin. This offers light to medium coverage and has a matte finish that looks natural without caking. It doesn't dry your skin or cause irritation and break outs. Click here to know more about this product.

Wet n' Wild Color Icon Knock on Wood is so pigmented that you only need a few strokes to achieve a rich display of color. It gives just the right amount of shimmer to give you a glowing finish. The colors are wearable on any occasion from a simple day look to a dramatic evening look.

Tony Moly Cat's Wink Mascara enhances the volume and length of your lashes with just a few strokes. It dries almost instantly and doesn't feel heavy on your lashes. It doesn't irritate the eyes and can be easily removed by a cleansing cloth.

Tony Moly Berry Berry magic lip tint is my ultimate favorite lip product. It visibly stains your lips giving it a healthy glow. It has decent staying power and touch-ups are quite unnecessary except after a meal or drink. I've been using this for 9 months now but the pot still looks full so this will definitely last long.

Kleenex oil blotter is an effective product that removes excess oil leaving your skin feeling fresh after each use. It doesn't irritate your skin and offers a quick fix in the middle of the day when it tends to get oily. 

Organix Moroccan Argan penetrating oil restores shine and softness as it strengthens your hair. It also provides you with perfectly moisturized and silky straight hair that looks great and smells divine.

Sally Hansen Maximum Growth nourishing nail color effectively reinforces soft, bitten, weaken or thin nails protecting them from further damage. It also visibly lengthens the nails faster in just one week. The natural color of this polish makes it wearable on any occasion. 

This concludes my Wish Box, a fantasy box containing all the stuff that I love and hope to be featured in beauty boxes soon. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did rounding up the products included in this box. 

What about you? Have you ever thought of making your own beauty box? Share your thoughts and let's all dream big together. After all, some dreams do come true. Spread the joy and have a happy holiday everyone!

♥ ♥ ♥

CELETEQUE: DermoScience from Sample Room

Hello readers! The Holiday rush is really kicking in. I've been to 2 Christmas parties in one day and a Holiday get together with close friends. Anyway, enough about that and let's go straight to business. Last time I wrote about Sample Room, I mentioned they included samples valued as low as 35 points on their second wave. Good thing I already earned points from reviewing the Shu Uemura Whitefficient Cleansing Oil enabling me to avail of 2 sample products.

My transaction went on smoothly and these were delivered in 2 days. I really have to admit I was quite hesitant to avail of any samples especially during the first wave when I couldn't get more than one product. I figured shelling out money for just a single product is costly considering there are beauty boxes with tons of products that are technically cheaper.

What makes Sample Room different from beauty boxes? The freedom to choose products you want to try. Also, Sample Room has generously included products in full size and with points less than 50 hence allowing members to avail of 2-3 samples in a single transaction.

Celeteque DermoScience Restorative Ultra-Lifting Concentrated Serum
Full Size: 30 ml
Price: PhP 899
Sample Room Points: 60

This Celeteque DermoScience Restorative Ultra-Lifting Concentrated Serum (whew!) comes in a small bottle with a dropper type dispenser/cover. It's virtually scent free, transparent and has the consistency of a thick serum. It spreads effortlessly on your face leaving it hydrated without feeling greasy. It initially feels sticky but fades after a few minutes of application. Your skin feels smooth and supple after each use. In terms of reducing fine lines and refining pores, at this point I think it's too early to tell but I will definitely be watching out for them and make an update.

What I really don't like about it is the dropper type dispenser which can get messy once you try to pull it out of the bottle. I also noticed my skin breaking out with small pimples after using it for 3 consecutive days. I discontinued this for a while and will give it another try later. I'm hoping for clearer skin in the next few weeks so I can retry this and see if it can really cause pimple break outs. 

Celeteque DermoScience Brightening Eye Tuck plus Dark Circles Lightener
Full Size: 15 ml
Price: PhP 299
Sample Room Points: 35

Celeteque DermoScience Brightening Eye Tuck plus Dark Circles Lightener comes in a squeeze type tube. It's scent free and has a creamy texture which glides smoothly on application. It instantly hydrates the skin around your eyes leaving them moisturized without looking puffy. 

Few days before using this, I accidentally scratched the inner corner of my left eye which turned into an unsightly dry and dark bump. I was so amazed that after using this for 3 days, it reduced and lightened that bump and is now unnoticeable making me regret not taking before and after pictures. I will continue using this for a few more weeks to see if it does deliver though I am confident it will do a great job in lightening the skin around my eyes the way it did on that unsightly bump.

Overall, I love the Brightening Eye Tuck plus Dark Circles Lightener which I will purchase once consumed. I do recommend it to those who are still on the hunt for an effective eye cream that delivers visible results. Though I won't be buying the serum once it gets consumed, I will still try using it again. I probably won't recommend this to those who are prone to skin break outs but if you're fond of using Celeteque products then this may work for you.

 ♥♥♥