Askmewhats Reviews: L'oreal HydraFresh Eye

One of the major supplier for my eye products (be prepare to gasp) is my dearest Brother! My brother is an Architect in China and he comes home for a visit once or twice a year. Since my job entails me to be in front of the computer whole day, plus my love to spend quality time chatting with my family or loved ones, I love to sleep late and mind you, I have to wake up early morning for work. One time, my brother came back home for a vacation, and my dearest brother who speaks nothing but the truth said: "You seriously have dark and puffy eyes!"

And you guessed right on what's next, the next time he came back, he bought me eye creams from Duty Free shops at the airport. Sweet! :D

I have had this for long but I was too lazy to use it because I felt that no eye cream would help me out but concealer! I was out of Clinique's All About Eyes eye cream one day so I gave this a try. Am I happy with this???? Read on!

L'oreal HydraFresh Eye says ---

All day freshness
Anti-dark circles
Eye cream gel
Pure Mineral SPA Water
Instant effect, long lasting action
Opthalmologically tested

Askmewhats says ---

Pros

• No allergies for my eyes
  
• I love this gel-like texture
• If you find traditional eye cream too heavy: This is for you!
• moisturizes my eye
• I find the puffiness of my eyes reduces after months of usage
• my eyes felt refreshed instantly after application due to it's texture
• non greasy, absorbs easily
• packaging is wonderful! No need to dip fingers

• affordable for an eye cream that will last me more than 6 months (applied morning and night)
  

Cons

• I'm not sure if it's available here (help me please), I researched and read that this is available at Watson's
• No MORE! :P
  

Overall

A lot of my readers asked me about eye creams, they of course want affordable eye cream that works! I've always mentioned to them that L'oreal makes good eye cream and I said that because of THIS eye cream.

This works for me! Yes Clinique's All About Eyes works for me too! But if I'm searching for a cheaper alternative, this works just as fine!

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My specs:

Computer time: approx. 8:00am-5:30pm (at work) 8:00pm-10:00pm (blogging, checking emails, chat time)
Sleeping Time: 11:30pm-12:30am (around those time)
Wake-up time: 5:30am
Additional: Wears eye makeup almost everyday

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When I started to use this, I didn't thought of reviewing this so I never took shots of myself, but my brother came back after 6 months and he told me the puffiness of my eye and the darkness did subside! It's still there, but its definitely better than before :)

That's my own experience and my own observation on this product :)


Tips

• rub the product on both fingers before you GENTLY apply them all over your eyes.
• be careful not to get the product into the eye
• wash your eyes with water ASAP if you find the product irritates your eyes
• if allergies occur, STOP using this, true for any other products!
  
• do not follow the instruction step no. 2 (photo below, click to enlarge) as pinching the skin around your eyes can lead to looser skin around the eye area as our skin around the eyes are sensitive (this is my personal opinion)

Will I repurchase?

Yes! This is a good alternative for my Clinique's All about Eyes.

Where did I purchase and how much?

A gift from my brother, I've checked internet and it costs around Php475.00 (approx $9.70)

Product Specs
Wonderful packaging!
Love the squeeze tube type



This is the amount of product
I use for one eye



Goes on clear
Absorbs quickly



Creates a wonderful glow
not too obvious
(obvious on photo due to flash)

What's your cheaper alternative for eye cream?
Do you even have one? lol
Keep smilin'
Stay Happy!

Bobbi Brown: Be Your Own Makeup Artist Workshop

Dear Philippine Readers:

Nail Art Tutorial: "Flower Power" Nails

Happy Friday Philippine Readers and great Thursday to the rest who aren't jumping for the Friday joy :)

Another nail art tutorial for my wonderful readers who are into nails! :) I've created a simple French Tip using different color, inspired by nothing but colors from my collection :) Here's how it looks like.

Step 1:

Prior to nail polish application, apply your preferred base coat to protect your nails. Apply one coat of matte white polish. I am using Elianto's Matte White polish. Doesn't have to be perfect because this is just the first coat.

Step 2:

Apply a platinum polish on top of the matte white polish. The reason I do so is because most platinum polishes are quite sheer, if you want platinum polishes to show up more vibrant, apply a matte version of the color you are using prior to the platinum polish.

Step 3:

Wait for the 2 coats to dry, using any color you desire, create a French Tip. I am using Arezia polish from my dear friend Beatrilicious Bea! Thanks Bei, love the polish color.

Step 4:

Want to make a more creative French tip? Under the first French Tip. Apply a thin line of different colored polish (Any color combination you like, its your choice). I am using Nail Art Pen in dark Pink.

Step 5:

Making sure the polishes are a bit dry, using a black nail art pen, create 5 dots and 3 dots as tail. (Imagine shooting star, but I"m doing shooting flower LOL)

Step 6:

Please do not forget the needle method to create wonderful flowers!

Step 7:

Attach rhinestones as "flower bud"

Step 8: (Optional)

Apply a coat of glittery polish.

Step 9:

Apply your favorite top coat :) And Voila!!! Flower Power Nails!

The steps above are probably making you go dizzy and think it's a waste of time. You can shorten it, it all depends on you. And I didn't take long to do my nails because drying time is quite quick because I only apply one coat on most of the steps.

To quicken the drying process, use quick dry polish, like the one I use from Sally Hansen Quik Dry.

Much better? Use your hair dryer, turn it to medium setting and blowdry your nails to make it dry quicker! :)

Have a wonderful day!
Keep smilin'!
Stay Happy :)

Askmewhats Version: The "ULTA" Look

Good day ladies and gentlemen!!!
I've done another look for the day! :D
I call this the ULTA look because I've used mostly ULTA eyeshadows. I can't believe I didn't use them much, they are super pretty and pigmented and color payoff is wonderful :) Ulta e/s are available at ULTA only and some colors I asked my friend who vacationed there to help me purchase and the other are gift from a blogger friend, Toma! :)

You can use your own choice of e/s brand for the looks here :)

Here's the final look
Yes, this was the look from the
Falsies Tutorial

Askmewhats Diagram

Prior to eyemakeup application
I primed my eye
with Benefit's Lemon Aid
(I am loving this Gracie)

Step 1:

Using a flat shader brush, pat on Ulta's Calla Lily on the inner thirds of the eye. Or use any frosted light pink e/s color :)

Step 2:

Using any crease brush or blending brush, in my case, I've used MAC 226 brush, apply the outer v corner with Ulta's Plum Noir or any dark Plum e/s color. Do not worry about harsh lines, we'll blend it all out later.

Optional:

To deepen my crease (as I don't have it) lol, using the same MAC226 brush, or any smaller crease brush, apply Ulta's Galaxy on top of the Plum Noir, or any black e/s, you can choose for sparkly or matte one.

Step 3:

To create a bit of a "summer fire", it's summer time down here anyways. Pat on NYX's Cherry single e/s on the eye ball area.

Step 4:

Since everything is shiny shimmery & splended, use a Matte White e/s this time to highlight the browbone and inner corner of the eye. I am using Lancome's quad, or any matte white e/s you have on your collection. (ELF makes good matte e/s!)

Step 5:

Gel liner baby!!! :P I also apply this on the lower lashline. Very close to the waterline.

Step 6:

Apply Fashion 21's Pearl stick e/s on the waterline, go through Ulta's Plum Noir e/s on top of the white cream e/s.

Optional:

Apply falsies if desired. If you have long, thick lashes, DO NOT talk to me! :P
(for applying falsies tutorial, smile and click here)

I'm done!!!!



The camera flash kinda washed out
the "Summer Fire Red"
Here's a shot for you to see
the effect of NYX Cherry



And what's on the rest of my face?



For the Face



MAC Studio Fix Liquid Foundation NC30
Mixed with CG TruBlend no. 1
(I am NC20! Confirmed!)

For the Cheeks



Meow Cosmetics Blush
in "What's New Pussycat?"
(Thanks Joyce for this I love this,
suits purple e/s!)

For the Lips



Covered the dark pigmentation of my lips
with ELF Tone Correcting Concealer
Pat on CG Amazemint

And Crabby has to join me again in this shot
because we both have "wispy" lashes LOL

(Liee, from Something Unconthrived,
thanks for the lovely button earrings)

Hope you like my Ulta Look :)
Have you done any purples lately?
What's your color for the day?
Keep smilin'
Stay Happy!

Askmewhats Reviews: MAC 242 Flat Shader Brush + Love Package

Dearest friends :) How's everyone today? Another review for a MAC brush I recently bought :) I know a lot of you have commented that MAC brushes are too pricey, yes, but I definitely thought of buying the ones I will definitely use for a long time, for clients :) Investment :)

MAC 242 says ---

For powder, concealer or emollient-based product application. This brush has firm fibers carefully shaped to form a rounded edge for a smooth, even finish. M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature birch, linden and ramin wood handles, nickel-plated brass ferrules.

16 cm



Askmewhats says ---

Pros

• stiff enough to grab pigments
  
• size is perfect for my lids
• no shedding
• no flyaways
• multi-tasker: Can be used for cream and powdered eye products
• perfect for MAC paintpots, eye primers, etc...
• can also be used to apply concealer on small spots
  

Cons

• pricey
• MAC logo and brush number does it's disappearing act once again lol (but there's always the clear nail polish method as recommended by my dear readers)
  

Overall

Thanks Liz for helping me out with decision making (via twitter), she told me that if you are into foiling and you love to wet your e/s, or you are into cream based eye makeup, this is a perfect tool for you.

I am not into Foiling, I am not into cream e/s but I LOVE THIS.

Why? Because I use this to apply my UDPP (I had mine in a pot now so dipping my fingers ain't hygienic).

I also use this to apply my concealer closer to my waterline! I love this brush! I know there's a lot of dupes out there, but this, again, is a perfect size on my lids!

I put this on "MUST HAVE MAC BRUSHES".


Tips

• do wipe the brush with baby wipes or clean it after every application, as cream based products can stiffen this brush and harder for you to use on the other eye.
• spray on water/fix+/Evian or any product you want on this brush for a more vibrant eye makeup
• wipe this with Oil, or in my case, I use my face cleansing oil, as cream based products are harder to remove

Will I repurchase?

If I can!!! Just like MAC's 239, I'll hold onto this baby til I go to sleep :P

Where did I purchase and how much?

At Local MAC store for Php1,490 (approx $30.00)

A closer look to MAC 242

Side View

Side by side with my other concealer brush
I use the bigger brush for concealing the undereye circles
Both works well together!

Mother and daughter Happy Together :P

To be honest, Since I got MAC 239 and 242,
I am not lemming for other MAC brushes anymore!
*knocks on wood*
I get happy easily ya' know :P

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Before I end this post, I want to give a special shoutout of thanks to sis Hedley of My Sweet Fix for the wonderful gift! She told me it's for my birthday and she added so many goodies!

Aawww, made me smile :)

Prestige My Little Black Book Eye Lip and Face Palette
Paul & Joe Face Color 002
Lush Soap in Honey I Washed the Kids
Lush Lip Balm
Lip Balm (Wild Strawberry and Lily)
Elianto Aqua Shadow (pink and blue)

Thanks sis Hedley!
I will definitely enjoy the goodies!
Thanks for thinking about me!
Keep Smilin'!
Stay Happy!