Nail Art Tutorial: Christmas-y Nails for Beginners

Happy Monday friends! :)  Positivity is always the right attitude to start a Manic Monday like this!  A dear friend Anastacia requested for a very simple nail art that doesn't use any stickers, it has been a long time request so dear, I hope you like this! :)

Step 1:

Apply base coat prior to polish application.  Using ELF Polish in Gum pink, apply 2 coats and let dry.  You can use any matte polish as a base for this tutorial.

Step 2:

Using L.A. Colors Art Deco in White, quickly create several lines like the previous one I've done for my Fimo Nails.  

Step 3:

Using Prettynails' baby pink glitter 2 way nail art pen, create lines on top of the white lines to create an illussion of a "snow capped" pink mountain! hahaha

Step 4:

Using L.A. Colors Art Deco in Sparkly Red, do the same strokes as Steps2-3 and do not cover all the "white" portion.

Step 5:

Apply rhinestones as needed.  I want it simpler so I used one on each fingers and more on thumbnails.

Step 6:

Top your art with your favorite top coat.

Enjoy your simple nail art
It looks festive and you're ready for Christmas season!

P.S. do not forget to join "For the Win: Karmin G3 Pro in White", last day today!!! Readers worldwide are encouraged to join!  Goodluck!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

Weekend Food Tripping at: H&E Restaurant

Heaven & Eggs has always been a favorite restaurant of ours, family gatherings, friends meet up, it's a perfect place to go.  It has always been known for it's "sky painted" walls, swing chairs, I love that place!

When we were strolling around Glorietta Makati, a new "vamped up" Heaven & Eggs was seen.  It's darker, edgier, and just plain opposite from the original! 

The moment you go in, it's a totally different ambiance and there's a song from the Beatles playing.  Yes, they are into "Rocker" theme.  The chairs are simple and not as cute as the previous one.  When menus are served, I've found a couple of familiar dishes but my favorite dishes are gone!  I missed the Oriental Salad with Hoisin Sauce..bring it back people!

 

Rock  You Like A Hurricane

Php349.00 (approx $7.60)

Grilled beef tenderloin wrapped in bacon

with strings of crunchy potatoes with quail eggs

 

Korean Beef Stew

Php245.00 (approx $5.33)

Seriously, why in the world would I order a Korean dish in a non Korean restaurant?

It's tempting!  And I'm glad I did, it tastes wonderful!  

The beef is soft to taste and the sauce blends in perfectly with the rice!  

It's served with shredded eggs, green bell pepper and crunchy carrots!

 

Rockstar Iced Tea

Php95.00 (approx 2.00)

Nothing spectacular, tastes like regular iced tea 

and I can find cheaper bottomless ones

(you know I can lol)

 

The food tastes great still, I don't know why they changed the look of their restaurant, whatever their reasons are, at least the food wasn't disappointing, we went out with happy stomach!

Oh yeah, prepare for an additional 10% service charge and they accept both cash and credit :)

Have a great day!
Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: ELF Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths

I seldom use cleansing cloths to wipe my face!  I'd rather go straight to the faucet and wash my face with a facial cleanser and remove the rest of the makeup with a makeup remover as needed!

When my dear friend Toma sent me these to try!  I knew this is going to be a good one because I have faith in her and she knew my taste! lol  Thanks, I love experiencing wonderful stuffs that doesn't burn a whole in my pocket!!

ELF Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths says ----

Gently and easily cleans skin to remove all traces of makeup and dirt, even waterproof mascara. Great for on-the-go travel. Gentle cloths are soft and soothing for even the most sensitive skin. Infused with Aloe Vera Extract for deep hydration and moisture. 20 Pre-moistened cloths included.

Dimensions
Package: 6.5"L x 4.5"W x 1"H
Cloth: 7.25"L x 6.75"W

Ingredients

AMW says ---

Pros

• company gives to charity, used recyclable material and no to animal testing!!!

• the cloth doesn't easily tear

• great packaging, has 2 protection, sticker seal and the plastic cover
• doesn't have strong irritating smell
• removes makeup easily, no tugging needed
• removes 80% of waterproof eyeliners or mascara
• leaves no weird oily residue
• no allergies or skin irritations
• multi purpose - can also be used to clean brushes
• does not dry out my skin
  

Cons

• one pack is not enough to last you a month if you wear makeup everyday! 
  
• you have super heavy duty makeup on?  You need more than 1 wipes and you'll probably finish the whole pack in one time, you might as well wash your face :)
  

Overall

I am never a fan of cleansing wipes, I've always purchased cleansing wipes for my brushes!  When I got these, I wanted to give this a try and wiped it gently all over my face and eyes and I was shocked!  The wipes does remove makeup!  I like using the wipes now prior to washing my face just to make sure everything is well cleansed before I go to sleep!

Taking this along is great too for any "boo boos" I may encounter as it's oil free and doesn't ruin the rest of the makeup!

Tips

from ELF

Gently wipe face with the cloth to remove dirt and makeup. Rinse off with warm water and towel dry. Dispose of the cloth in trash receptacle (do not flush). After removing cloth, reseal and close lid.

from AMW

• always wash your face right after using this cleansing wipes
  
• one pack is never enough, if you have the chance, purchase more and stock up!
• stop using ASAP if irritations occur
  

Will I repurchase?

Yes!

Where to purchase and how much?

At E.L.F. website for $3.50 (approx Php160.00) 20 cloths.

Thanks Toma for sending me this to try! :)

A Closer look to the plastic flip

 

Additional sticker to prevent the cloth from drying up

 

The cloth up close

 

I've had quite a simple makeup on right after work, 

and so far, it did remove the dirt as labeled!

 

Always remove your makeup well before you go to sleep!
That's one huge beauty secret a girl should know!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

Readers' Corner: Fimo Polymer Clay

Happy Friday people!  Such a lovely day and perfect time for me to thank all my lovely friends for commenting on my first Fimo Nail Art ever!  I got overwhelming questions regarding the Fimo Polymer Clay.  What are they?  Are they stickers?  Where to purchase?  Well, I hope this post will answer all your questions regarding this! :)  (Again, I want to thank my dear friend ebeautyblog for introducing these cuties to me!)

First things first, what's Fimo?  

(according to ehow)

Fimo is one of the most popular brands of polymer clay and is used in multiple arts and crafts venues. Artisans form Fimo clay into beads, pendants, buttons and trinkets and then cure the clay by baking it in an oven. Some artists extend the purposes even further by mixing it with glazes, paint and adhesives.

I ordered 50pcs Fimo Rod Sticks and they look like this....

 

I bought the Fimo Polymer Clay sticks because they are cheaper and I love DIY projects!  I can cut these sticks into tiny slices and people can use them for scrapbooking or other decorations but I bought these intended to put them on my nails!  They are made of polymer clay and stick size is approximately 5-6mm thick x 50mm long.  You still can't imagine their size?  Here's an easier sample :)

 

Yes, they are indeed tiny, but if you slice them thinly, you can achieve approximately 50-100 slices!

Different sellers on ebay have different strategies in selling these.  They could be sold by theme - fruits, florals, etc.. while other sell them mixed by 10s, 20s, 50s, 60s or even more!  They are just too colorful and cute that I can't take my eyes off them!

 

How to cut these?

Are you ready to see my amateurish version? *smiles*  

Things needed:

• cutting board/slicing board
• sharp razor blade approx. 4 inch 

Steps:

Make sure to have a slicing board or cutting board underneath.  Use a sharp razor blade to cut.  Grasp your cane right on the cane area adding stability to the cane. Lay the middle part of the blade just right on top of the cane.

 

With the right pressure, slightly draw the blade back and forth slicking downwards.

 

Success!

 

I keep them in my blank wheel!  See how pretty they are?

Oh right!  Before you ooh and ahh over my photo, I am not perfect!  I do make mistakes and this isn't an exception!  First few tries is quite difficult but you'll get the hang of it! 

Oh well, these are not wasted!  I use these badly cut ones to stick it on my tiny fingernails!  Nothing wasted!

Where to purchase these?

You can check out Ebay .  They sell it in 25 sticks, 50 sticks or even those pre-cut versions if you're very lazy but it's pricier!

Now you're ready to prettify your nails!  You can use a nail glue to stick these or just use a regular clear polish and always remember to top it right after with a clear top coat to prevent the Fimo Polymer Clay from folding up!  

Enjoy a different version of nail art! :)

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

Stay fruity!

Oh yeah, Happy Thanksgiving day to our dear friends 

who celebrate this wonderful holiday!

Eureka Moment: UBL Craft Case

Good morning everyone!  Eureka Moment for me when I found this craft case at the local Japan Home Center for only Php88.00! (approx $2.00)!  I bought this not knowing what to do, I don't plan to use this for my mineral makeup as the twist cap isn't that secure.  So this was left alone for awhile..until one day...

 

Why haven't I thought of this earlier?  I own a lot of rhinestones for my nail art designs, I find it's easier to grab the rhinestones with a case like this!  I like it that it's easy to tote around too!

I'll definitely purchase more!

 

Do you have a stackable case?
What do you use it for?

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Becca Eye liner Compact in Barbarella

If you ask me what eye makeup application is very important for me, definitely not mascara application!  I can live without mascara but I've found myself grabbing for an eyeliner each and every time before leaving the house!  No wonder I've had so many gel liners, pencil liners and liquid liners around!

I couldn't believe I missed something out!!!  Becca Cosmetics came out with an intriguing product!  The Becca Eye liner Compact that comes with an Eye Seal!  Yes darling, there is such product around!

Becca eye liner compact says ---

This amazingly versatile eyeliner can be applied wet or dry to create a range of looks, from elegant defined to intensely smoldering.  Packaged with a liquid sealer to maximize the formulation's long-lasting, smudge-proof and water resistant benefits, the dynamic duo is all you need for a flawless liner application.  Fragrance-free.

Perfect for creating a sharp sexy line along the top or bottom of lashes.

Can be used dry for soft, smoky definition or wet for a stronger line.

Waterproof sealant makes the line smudge-proof, budge-proof and water-proof.

Size

1g/0.03oz compact & 4ml/0.14 fl oz vial

Ingredients

Eye Liner Compact: Talc, Kaolin, PVP, Aqua (Water), Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Laneth-40, Glyceryl Stearate, Ricinus Communis (Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Carnauba (Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax), Candelilla Cera (Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax), Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Microcristallina Cera (Microcrystalline Wax), Cetyl Alcohol, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben and may contain: [+/- Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Ultramarines CI 77007, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510]. Water Proof Sealer: Aqua (Water), Acrylates/ Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Diglycol/ CHDM/ Isophthalates/ SIP Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben.

 

AMW says ---

Pros

• seriously stayed put for the whole day, even when I cried, it stayed on!
• no irritations occur
• seriously lasts for whole day or until I remove the liner
• you can control the "lightness" or "darkness" of your eyeliner which is quite hard to achieve on gel liners,liquid liners or even pencil liners!
  
• very versatile, I can create a very simple naturally defined eyes or I can apply thickly to create a wilder look!
• I find the packaging to be really good!  Made with good quality materials and it comes with a mirror and a "protector shield"
  

Cons

• very tricky to apply
• if you're a lazy bum, this will take a lot of effort just to line your eyes!
• if you love the sealant that goes along with this, I have a feeling the sealant will be gone faster than the eyeliner powder! 
• the sealant bottle has a huge opening, I prefer this to be housed in a dropper so I don't need to dip the whole brush inside the sealant which is quite unhygienic

Overall

I thought I've already tried all forms of eyeliners!  But I guess I'm wrong!  This is the most intriguing eyeliner I've tried!  I like how versatile this product is, there are some days gel liners are just too strong for my taste, so I would just grab onto this and apply this dry near my lashes, which made my lashes fuller!

I am very confident in the smudge-proof, budge-proof and water-proof quality of this product because I've tested this so many times!  It really lives up to its claim!

Tips

From Becca

• Keep eyes open and apply a flick of eye liner to the outer corners (to ensure the line flicks up with the shape of the eye rather than tilting downwards).
• Draw a line as close to the lashes as possible, starting thin and increasing as desired.
• Use Fine Eyeliner Brush #6 for fine, precise line or Eye Definer Brush #30 for a soft, smudgy effect.
• Do not wet entire cake - allocate one half for wet use only, leaving the other half for dry use only 

From AMW

• need to test on different eyeliner brushes for different effects!
• you can apply the eyeliner dry prior to the application of the sealant, I personally prefer to wet my brush with the sealant to grab more pigments.
• if you have an empty "visine" bottle, transfer the sealant to this bottle so you'll have a dropper!
• if you don't want to transfer the sealant, I suggest you turn over the sealant a bit and use the sealant left on the cap area and always wipe it with cotton or paper napkin to make it clean (OC-ness!)

• if I finish up the sealant from Becca, I'll probably use my Make up Forever's Eye Seal! 

Will I repurchase?

I don't know how long this will last me, I've used this for more than a month and it looks like I wasn't even touched!

Where to purchase and how much?

At Becca Counter located at Adora, Greenbelt 5 for Php1,750 (approx $38.00) <-- at first glance I felt this is pricey, but after using this for a month, it is worth it as this lasts longer than pencil liners and liquid liners!

A closer look to the shade Barbarella on pan

 

Check out the swatch with and without sealant

Without - when applied, looks very natural, doesn't look like you've used eyeliner, lashes appear fuller

With - a more dramatic lined look, effect came out the same as using a liquid liner.  Can thicken your eyeliner easily, no flaking

Rubbing test:

Without - can rub off easily but doesn't leave a dirty smudge

With - have to rub many times to remove.   Doesn't leave any dirty smudge or marks too

 

Quite small yet powerful!
Perfect to tote around, what a great combination!

Have you tried similar eyeliner compact?
How do you find using them?
Easy? Messy?

Keep smilin' 

Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Dollface 88pcs Earth Color Palette

As seen on my previous post, I am quite happy and excited when I got the Dollface 88pcs Earth Color Palette.  For a neutral makeup lover like I am, this is the perfect palette for me!  I don't even know why it took me this long to own one!

 

AMW says ---

Pros

• you've got every shade you need to create a nice makeup looks in one palette
• great pigmentation
• eyeshadow is smooth in texture
• inexpensive 
• on the seller: Great communication, fast shipment and packed really well

Cons

• some eyeshadow are too powdery so it cracks easily
• no matter how nicely packed this product is, there are still some accidents during shipment so be prepared to have some minor cracks!
  

Overall

I know a lot of beauty enthusiasts own this palette and raved about it!  I know, I'm late!  But late or not, this palette doesn't fail to impress me!  I like it when I have multiple choices in one palette!  I've played around with this over the weekend and I can't help but "ooohhd" and "aahhhd" over the color choices and pigmentation.  I am impressed!  On top of my head, I am already creating several looks with this!  And what's even perfect? I can use this palette on regular work days and it will never feel over the top!

Tips

• always use an eye primer prior to eyeshadow application to keep from fall outs or creasing
• some shades can be used for eyebrow powder
• some shades can also be used to contour your nose!
  
• never drop the palette, this goes for all makeup palettes!
  

Will I repurchase?

Yes!  I've even recommended this to a lot of my friends!

Where to purchase and how much?

At Dollface Cosmetics website for Php950.00 (approx $21.00) + Php50.00 (approx $1.00) flat rate shipping

Here's a closer look on the 88pcs Earth Color Palette

 

Numbered them on my own

are you ready for swatches galore?

 

All applied dry 

without base!

You can always click photo to enlarge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you'll find the review and swatches helpful!

Definitely more looks done using this palette!

Thanks Pearl for bringing in such wonderful and inexpensive product!

You don't want to wait for shipment and want to see products in person?

Check out their bazaars and look for the "Dollface Cosmetics" banner.

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!