Saturday, January 30, 2010

NARS Schiap

Product Critique: Nars Schiap
Semi-matte Shocking Pink (accdg. to Nars website)
(photo from www.meccacosmetica.com.au)
Subjective Judgment:
My boyfriend gave this to me as one his gifts for Valentine's. (aawww. =])  yeah since it's a haul today, I also got Gina, which I will do a review on, soon, and a mini lipgloss duo as a freebie! :) It was funny. When I asked for Schiap, the SA was like "Oh, the popular Schiap!" I guess my rave is late, but oh well, better late than never! :) So enough about personal stuff. This the perfect HOT pink, and when I say hot, I mean sizzling! I'm so inlove with this I'd marry it if I could. :P Thanks to sis wednesdai of GT who was such a B.I. with Schiap, hope she gets to read this! :)
Here is a photo wearing my new love ♥ :


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Pro's:
- the color is looove!
- great staying power. long-lasting
- not hard to blend.
- not messy if you're not used to applying lipsticks, unlike MAC reds, which tend to be so if you're not used to it, IMO.
- uhh. HOT! :P

Con's:
- a bit drying.
- doesn't come in cheap. :(
Rating: still a 5 over 5 for the very very lovely color. :)
Where to Buy and How Much: Nars, Rustan's. 1250php.
Re-purchase: If this one expires, definitely! This one's gonna be with me for a long time though, only gonna use it for night outs or special occasions. :)

Oh and sisters, HELP! Still can't make it look like MAC Nouveau, or a barbie pink shade. tried it with pale pink gloss, and my gloss just doesn't seem to do anything but gloss it out. Any suggestions?
 

Smashbox Soft Lights in Shimmer


Product Critique:
Smashbox Soft Lights in Shimmer
"Get a gorgeous lit-from-within glow with this silk-like shimmering powder. The illuminating formula softens the way light reflects on your skin and wakes up your complexion for a radiant look. Best of Sephora Award Nominee for Best Blush" - www.smashboxcosmetics.com 

 Subjective Judgment:
I bought this nearly a month ago, and I use it for the inner corners of my eyes, the bridge of my nose, under my brows, and as a cheek highlighter. So in short, this is a highlighter of any kind, and it does it's job well I must say! Since I bought this, I couldn't really wear a blush without this! It's highl;ight is buildable too, so a bit for the day, then pack on some more for the night out! ;)
Pro's:
- Gives a natural shimmer and glow, not glitter! :)
- highlights all over, unlike some which only serve one purpose.
- really large pan so it'd last you a lifetime.
- can even be used as a light peach eyeshadow
Con's:  
- can't think of any! Uh.. expensive? But the pan is so large!
Rating: 5 out of 5!
Where to get and how much: Beauty Bar, 1450php(approximately? forgot. LOL). 
Re-purchase: I dunno, the pan is so large, maybe not.  

Friday, January 22, 2010

NYX Eyeshadow Base

Product Critique: NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skin Tone






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To get the maximum brilliant color of eye shadow on your eye, an eye primer is a must! Apply eye shadow base to eyelids, then apply NYX's high-pigmented eye shadows and see the colors pop with vibrant and sparkling luster. Eye shadow base grabs and firmly holds finely milled powder so the color in the pot is what ends up on your eye - without a pinch lost.  (Cherry Culture)

Subjective Judgment of the Object: 
So I wanted to make my eyeshadows last a bit longer without paying for the ridiculously overpriced Urban Decay Primer Potion, and saw a fellow GirlTalker selling this on her multiply site. I immediately had to try this stuff so with no hesitations, I placed an order. 
At first, I was a bit hesitant with the color, but i was surprised as it even made the color of my lids a bit lighter. I first used this on my bare skin then pat on powder as I usually do on ordinary school days(I know, silly me) and it creased. Surprise surprise, I have oily lids, so I practically didn't use this for two weeks because I thought it made my shdaows' staying power even worse. Until one day, I thought of using it again but this time, I first applied concealer, foundation, and powder and all those stuff, then this just right before I apply my eyeshadow. Then lo and behold, the eyshadows stayed put all day without creasing or even fading! I just needed something to control oil beforehand. ;) btw, it intesified the colors really well. :) Here's a swatch of my Lancome quad with and without the base:
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and this is how it looks like in the pot:
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As you can see, it makes the colors really pop! I'm totally hooked and cannot wear eyeshadow without this now. :)

Pro's:
- intensifies the colors of eye shadows
- makes them last longer
- cheap! :)
- does not feel sticky and glides on smoothly

Con's:
- creases if there isn't enough base.

Rating: 4 out of 5 :)
Where to Buy and How Much: e-Bay and multiply. 350-400php I think.. can't remeber LOL
Re-purchase: Definitely! Maybe in White or Pearl next time since I'm not into neutrals. :)


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Review: The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream

Product Critique: Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream



An easily absorbed, non-clogging, oil-free, hydrating gel-like moisture cream. It controls excess sebum and shine whilst delivering essential moisture to areas most in need, balancing the skin throughout the day. Leaves skin feeling fresh, clean, soft and supple with a shinefree, matte complexion. (from TBS Philippines website)

Subjective Judgment of the Object:
I have used this for a few weeks now although not on a daily basis, I've tried putting on make-up with and without this but have never tried using this alone. Now let's go to the review.
When I first applied this, I was surprised and at the same time impressed with how quickly it sunk into my skin. It dries super quickly, I must say. I also love how my skin feels smoother after applying this. Although it's not uber great at controlling oil(cause I'm a grease ball), I find that it actually at least does it's job in that aspect. I would be a bit oily in 3-4 hours when using this, which I normally do in 1 and a half hour, so no big deal but does it's job so-so. One thing I really really like about this too is that it serve both as moisturizer and primer! It's not the best primer but it saves my wallet from buying an expensive primer that does a better job because this one works just fine for me. :)

To Narrow it Down:
Pro's:
- controls oil for a while
- moisturizes and hydrates of course :)
- leaves the skin super smooth after application
- Can serve as primer
- nice smell! :)
- a little goes a long way so one pot will last you for ages!


Con's:
- controls oil ONLY for a while :(



Rating: 4 out of 5. If it had controlled my oily skin for a bit longer, I could've given it a five!
Where to get it and How much: Most malls have a TBS branch, I got this for 795php. They often go on sale though! I was one unlucky girl. :P

P.S. I've only tried Nivea Creme other than this, the previous one was not suited for oily skin, so I really don't have a wide range to compare with. Use at your own discretion. :)

*my first review! weee!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Defining Beauty

One may ask, what is beauty? Beauty has been, for centuries, a very vague term. If I ask you who is more beautiful, Angelina Jolie or Catherine Zeta Jones, surely, the answer would depend on your taste as "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder", but the basic measurement of beauty is still indeed in the superficial level. But if I now ask you again whether you think Angelina Jolie is more beautiful than Mother Theresa or the other way around, then your basic measurement of beauty would then change. That's when you become confused and would then ask yourself what beauty is for you, which is a very common mistake. A fallacy, to be precise. It is a fallacy which I am not sure if Aristotle had taken note of but which I am quite sure has been caused by being too poetic and literary of the idealistic minds, transferring one attribute to the other. So Plato, despite writing his works in dialogues and literary forms, had been right when he criticized literature for tending to be deceptive so as to leading people into a different realm other than reality and rationality, after all.
What is wrong when you say that Mother Theresa is more beautiful than Angelina Jolie? It is attributing something aesthetic to something that is based not on aesthetics but on moral grounds. It is one thing to say Mother Theresa is a good, regardless of the fact that "good" is relative, but another to say that she is beautiful, unless you really think she is "prettier"(to use a more worldly term) than Angelina Jolie.
This is a common error especially among the Filipino people, of which the reason, might I suggest, is our clinging to the Western "Maganda ang Maputi" or something to that sense. Why do you think is Belo very popular nowadays? Why, almost every woman dreams of a pointed nose, high cheekbone, deep set eyes, or something in that range, some features that resemble those of a Caucasian's. Now why do we resort to the definition of beauty as something that is beyond physical? Something that is of diginity, pride, and pure-heartedness when those attributes are not aesthetic but rather, moral, therefore leading the categorical sense of ethics? It is a compensation for not being Caucasian. But you know, that's wrong. Beauty is physical, and it will always be physical. But then, it is still relative which is the reason why different people would have different answers when I ask them the question whether Catherine or Anglina is more beautiful.
This fallacy, is due to the loss of defining our own identity as Filipina women, or whatever nationality we have other than Caucasian. Hollywood is just too influential and all too good at imposing the measurements of beauty when Precious Lara Quigaman  can be just as beautiful as Catherine Zeta Jones or Angelina Jolie without looking as one of their maids. It is the scapegoat for not being white.
Well, guess what. You don't have to compensate. The thing is, Filipino women tend to be trying hard copycats of the Hollywood fakes, instead of letting their own physical beauty shine. Really, you have your own beauty, so you don't have to compensate for it by saying the cliche that beauty lies in the inner qualities of a person because y then, that wouldn't be called beauty but instead, goodness.