I am forever faithful to Tony Moly especially after giving their Floria cleansing oil a try. I really don't use a cleansing oil to remove makeup and it was only a month ago when I got to try one. Thanks to Sample Room, I was given the chance to try the best cleansing oil there is, the Shu Uemura cleansing oil. Though I was amazed at how effective it is, I haven't bought one for myself because it's way over my budget. So when I saw the Tony Moly Floria cleansing oil on display and found out it's more affordable than Shu, I didn't think twice and bought one

I got this for only Php 998 and I'm confident to say that every centavo is worth it because this stuff is truly amazing. It comes in a generous 200 ml bottle with a pump dispenser. I find this cleansing oil pretty similar to Shu Uemura in so many ways. They have the same divine scent which is not too overpowering. Both of them feel so smooth when applied on your skin and turn to milky white when washed off with water. Both are highly capable of effectively removing makeup and can be easily rinsed off with water leaving your skin feeling soft and surprisingly non-greasy. None of them caused any skin irritation or breakouts.


There is a minor difference in consistency with it being quite thinner than Shu Uemura but it's almost unnoticeable. The big difference is the price because the Tony Moly cleansing oil is way more affordable so if you're an avid user of cleansing oils, give this product a try and you'll be surprised at how effective and cost efficient it is. 

I recommend this to anyone who's on the look out for a more budget friendly cleansing oil that doesn't sacrifice quality and efficacy. You can choose from 2 varieties available depending on your skin type whether you have oily or normal skin. If you have combination skin like me, the one for oily skin is more suitable for you. I will definitely buy another once this runs out.

Updated Kikay Kit Essentials

First of all I would like to greet everyone a happy and prosperous new year. I love that we get to have another chance to make things right or at least better. Though you can always start to improve yourself any day of the year it still feels different to do it on a momentous day when everyone else is sharing the same passion in the spirit of the holidays.

On to the real topic of this post, I figured that my kikay kit (vanity kit) needs to be updated for the new year. I'm making just a few changes so I can use other stuff I love.

I'm using this pouch from The Body Shop's tea tree travel set I bought a couple of years ago. It really pays to keep free pouches from gift sets. Anyway, you have to congratulate me on this because my vanity essentials are now down to 9 items.

(1) Kleenex oil control film is a must-have especially for those who tend to have oily skin in the middle of the day.

(2) The Body Shop all-in-one face base is my current favorite finishing powder since I started using it a couple of months ago. Just a few dabs help even out your complexion and reduce shine.

(3) The Body Shop mini hairbrush is a gift I got years ago but I never got to use it until lately. I love that the bristles are blunt  at the tips and don't hurt your scalp when used. The size is just right to fit in any pouch without taking too much space.

(4) Sanrio nail cutter or any nail cutter for that matter can come in handy anytime you need some nail clipping and don't have the time to have your nails done in a salon. I prefer this because it's designed to trap pieces of your clipped nail so you can use it anywhere without making a mess.

(5) Smashbox O-glow is my not so favorite cheek tint but after watching Miss Michelle Phan's way of applying cheek stains by patting quickly around the apples of her cheeks, I gave this another try and I'm glad to say that I'm loving the results.

(6) Tony Moly Cat's Wink Mascara is one of the slimmest  full size mascara I've seen. Though it's not my most favorite, it's still a good mascara that adds volume and a little bit of length to your lashes.

(7) Clinique Chubby Stick in super strawberry has been an indispensable item. I love the variety of colors available and how it instantly moisturizes you lips. The tapered tip that resembles a jumbo crayon enables it to reach the slim corners of your lips but the downside is it gets blunt after a while.

(8) Benefit Posie Tint gives your lips a natural flushed look and is best coupled with a lip balm or gloss for a more moisturized finish. 

(9) The Body Shop retractable brush is actually a blush brush that can double as a face brush. I love that it's retractable so the bristles are protected from being deformed. The bristles are so soft and densely packed that it glides smoothly on your face.

So that's it, I can't believe I'm surviving with just a few items in my kikay kit. Let's see if  I can trim it down again next year with just the most essential stuff. How about you, what do you carry around in your vanity kit?

Spread GREATNESS

Most of you are probably thinking that having a new year's resolution is old school or the thing of the past. I thought of it the same way and initially decided I won't have any this year until I rediscovered this..

The cover might give you an impression that it's an autobiography of someone famous, a national hero, a former president, a music icon or someone who won a Nobel prize. We can go on speculating who this great person is but I bet no one will ever guess it correctly until you open the pages.

Inside are blank pages. Yes, it's a journal which means that the great person is he/she who owns it, in this case I'm the great person. I still find it awkward thinking of myself as such but as Bo Sanchez says, each one of us is God's masterpiece created in His own image and likeness hence we are great and we are bound to do great things
to serve others. 

In comes my new year's resolution. I pledge to do my best in every endeavor so that I can be who I'm intended to be, a great child of a GREAT GOD created in His image and likeness. A great person who can help inspire others to do the same. I may not achieve this overnight, but I know I will in God's grace. How about you, what's your new year's resolution? You might want to consider being great too.


♥ ♥ ♥

Last Minute Holiday Shopping

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!

♥ ♥ ♥