Garnier Philippines Promo

YOU CAN WIN BIG, BRIGHT PRIZES
IN GARNIER'S BIG BLOWOUT PROMO

On its very first anniversary here in the Philippines, the GARNIER treats everyone to an amazing nationwide promo where each customer's purchase of participating Garnier Light Skincare Product can giveher a chance to win any of the mind-blowing prizes up for grabs, including a brand new Honda Jazz, Php100K cash, a barkada trip for 4 to Boracay and over 10,000 more bright prizes!

The promo is open to all Garnier users who purchase any of the following products: Garnier Light Cream SPF15 50ml/20ml, Light Cream SPF 15 Gentle (for sensitive skin) 50ml, Light Overnight Cream 50ml/20ml, Light Eye Roll On, Light Scrub Wash 100ml/50ml, Light Gentle Wash 100ml/50ml. Upon purchase one can just peel off the promo card bundled with the product and instantly reveal the prize.

Garnier, renowned globally as the brand that cares, combines the best of science and nature to bring out the natural beauty in everyone. The brand is built around the value of care, tapping diferent segments of the market to give each one the specialized care he/she needs ---for every age, a Garnier Care. With this, different products and activities have been lined up to specifically address the personal care needs of everyone at different stages of their lives.

The big blowout is from September 28 to November 30, 2009. Run to any leading Supermarket, Department Store, Drug Store and Beauty Stores nationwide.

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!
I'll always keep you posted!

Ensembles, Freeway and Solo Pre-Holiday Sale

Dear Philippine Readers:

Wow, Christmas is really coming up! I fell the Christmas spirit with sales and bazaars coming up!!!

Another one from Ensembles, Freeway and Solo.

Ensembles
Ensembles is holding their Pre-Holiday Sales! Start your Christmas Shopping early and enjoy great savings! Sale starts on Friday, October 16. To find the store nearest you, go to www.ensembles.com.ph

Freeway
The great Freeway Pre-Holiday starts on Friday, October 16! Enjoy huge savings on your Christmas shopping or get a deal on your Holiday outfits! To find the store nearest you, go to www.freeway.net.ph

Solo
The much awaited Solo Pre-Holiday Sale is finally here! Start your Christmas shopping early and enjoy up to 50% off on selected items! Sale starts Friday, October 16! Get first dibs on the great styles! For the Solo Store nearest you, go to www.solo.com.ph



Enjoy shopping for your friends and loved ones
this coming holiday season!!!
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Nick Chavez Volumizing Extra Hold Hairspray + Meetup with Ai

Hair styling products like gel, mousse or hairspray are not interesting for me. I almost never use them except attending parties or special events. Why? I have several bad experiences using those sticky and drying products and I always ended up losing a couple of hair or even more!

I'm glad styling products nowadays are user friendly and environmental friendly! I'm glad its easier to choose products now based on your need. And a hairspray that's meant for hold, style and volume? Interesting ....

**photo from Nick Chavez site

Nick Chavez Volumizing Extra Hold Hair Spray says ---

Fast-drying volumizing extra hold spray provides firm hold with a light mist; stronger control with more precise application; and extra support when concentrated in a particular area.

For All hair types, from fine to heavy, and from curly to textured.

Infusing hair with fabulous volume and fullness, the spray holds your style all day long while allowing your hair the freedom of movement without a stiff and tacky look or feel. Hair remains brushable for restyling and reholding. Botanical extracts add shine and Panthenol/ProVitamin B5 helps moisturize and control static as your hair resists humidity.

Ingredients

SD Alcohol 40, 1,1, Difluoroethane, Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Panthenol, Dimethyl Stearamine, Glycerin, Linoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Dimethyl Lauramine Isostearate, Lactamide MEA, PEG-75 Lanolin, Benzophenone-3, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hop) Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Root Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Fragrance (Parfum)"

AMW says ---

Pros

• smells great
• does not create "crunchy" hair
• since it doesn't feel crunchy on hair, this product works great with heated tools
• gives flexible hold
• can easily comb out the hair without flakes
• hair does not look "sprayed" or all made up, hair can still look naturally soft and shiny

Cons

• cannot be purchased locally

Overall

It is a great hairspray, but I wouldn't go all the trouble to purchase it and wait for weeks for this to be shipped at my door step. I think there are other hairsprays that can do the same hold Nick Chavez gives but what I love about this product is how I can still brush my hair if I made a "spray" mistake and I won't have white flakes on my hair that looks like dandruff.

Another selling point about this hairspray is the "volumizing" factor it gives as compare to other hair sprays in the market. My mom uses hairspray each time she goes out as she has to spray her hair in place as her hair is fine and she needed the volume on the front area. I've given this to her as a gift and she loves it as the volume stays and it smells gorgeous!

Tips

from Nick Chavez

• For volume - lift your hair and spray at the root area in short bursts. Then lightly mist your entire head to set.
• To achieve an allover hold - spray in short bursts while holding the can eight to 12 inches from your hair.
• To achieve a texturized look - spray and scrunch.

from AMW

• use this to spray on curls directly to let the curls hold especially on humid weather like ours
• want the sideways bangs? Spray this several inches away from the bangs
• quickly blowdry the area that has been sprayed with the hairspray to hold the hair in place
• if you have friends in the US? Ask them to help you purchase, they do come in great deals once in awhile
• wash your hair after, never leave hair styling products onto hair for too long

Will I repurchase?

I think I can skip this one, there are other available hairsprays easily purchased locally that works as good.

Where to purchase and how much?

Nick Chavez website for $23.00 (approx Php1,100) for 10oz.
At QVC for $32.50 (approx Php 1,500) for 2 BOTTLES

--------------------------------------------------

Before I end this post, I want to share a photo that was taken by my hubby. It was a sudden fellow blogger meeting with Ms. Ai!!! Ai is a lovely Indonesian blogger friend whom I met last weekend because she's here only for the weekend. I also met up another friend of hers and it was a lovely Japanese dinner! Ai, come back soon and we'll see each other again! :)

**L-R Ai's Friend, Me and Ai

Keep smilin'
Stay Happy!

Clinique's October Offer

Dear Philippine Readers:

Clinique Philippines has an exclusive offer for the month of October!

Clients get to choose their own "Clinique Concern Kit" for a single minimum purchase of Php3,500. Details and content of each kit below:

DULLNESS

• Turnaround Instant Facial
• Turnaround Visible Skin Renewer
• Superdefense Age Defense Moisturizer
• Cosmetic Bag

AGING

• Rinse off Foaming Cleanser
• Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream
• Repairwear Contour
• Cosmetics Bag

BLEMISH

• Anti-Blemish Solutions Bar for Face and Body
• Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion
• Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Moisturizer
• Cosmetics Bag

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Becca Créme Blush in Amaryllis

Most powdered blushes I've tried never last more than half a day. And I always ended up a nice overall made-up face sans the blush. I know the answer to my problem is to use a cream blush and set it with a blush powder to make my blush stays longer. Laziness strikes, so I haven't been doing it.

When I heard about BECCA Cosmetics and the range of products they offer. I can't help but rush to ADORA Greenbelt 5 to check out the products. The cream blushes caught my attention as I needed it both for myself and for wedding gigs or whatever gigs that needed great staying power for blushes!

Here's what I got to try!

The shade I got is called Amaryllis ---

Amaryllis is described to have
an authentic burnt rose hue

No Flash

With Flash

BECCA Créme Blush says ---

The ultimate blush! This highly pigmented formulation and silky-smooth texture melds into the skin for an incredibly natural, "just blushed" look. Layer for added drama.

Provides natural, radiant, long-lasting color to cheek, producing a radiant, healthy appearance

The highly pigmented, creamy formulation can be used to emulate the look of youthful skin and is good for most skin types (except very oily or blemished skin)

Contains anti-oxidant vitamin E
Preservative and paraben-free

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Palmitate, Petrolatum, Carnauba (Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax), Candelilla Cera (Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax), Kaolin, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Tocopherol, Parfum (Fragrance) and may contain: [+/- Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Carmine CI 75470, Red 21 Lake CI 45380, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 7 CI 15850, Ultramarines CI 77007, Red 40 CI 16035, Yellow 6 Lake CI 15985, Bismuth Oxychloride CI 77163, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Red 36 CI 12085, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Mica].

Size: 3g/0.1 oz compact

AMW says---

Pros

• color stays the whole day
• has a tiny floral scent which is ok for me
  
• easy to blend
• creamy yet non oily
• non-drying too
  
• a tiny amount is needed for both cheeks, one pot lasts a long time!
• very pigmented
• packaging: made with good taste, has a mirror and protector

• multi-purpose: Can be used both for the cheeks and lips and lids (only if you have non oily lids or if lid primer is used) Non-drying on lips.

Cons

• packaging: a bit bulky to stack on train case if you're a makeup artist
• at first glance, the price tag is steep! (but this definitely goes a loooooonnnggg way!)
• if you have super oily cheeks, could oil up more, but please read tip below for super oily skin
• if you apply using your fingers, you have to wash your hands afterwards

Overall

Powder blush is still the way to go for daily blush usage but if you are a budding makeup artist or professional makeup artist, this is a wonderful addition to your makeup collection as I've tried using this Creme blush as a base to the powder blush, it lasts way longer and it looks very natural on photos! I will definitely be toting this around on all my gigs!

Personally, I love using this because it gives out a "natural flush" and it looks so natural that people can't tell you're wearing a blush, I've even tried taking photos up close and it doesn't look like I'm wearing any blush at all. If you love natural, barely there makeup look, this is very pretty. For darker skin tone, you may need to apply more to achieve the flush.

Tips

From Becca

• Apply over liquid or creme based products (Luminous Skin Colour, Stick Foundation, Compact Concealer) and before setting with Fine Loose Finishing Powder.
• Can be used on the lips for a beautiful wash of colour.
• Using Creme Blush Brush #34, apply to the "apples" of the cheeks (the fatty part of the cheek where it is possible to pinch the flesh and where you would blush naturally).

From AMW

• as recommended by Ms. Amanda of Becca, Turkish Rose or Amaryllis are 2 of the bestselling creme blush shades
• for dry skin: always moisturize your skin well and use the right kind of foundation for dry skin before applying this.
  
• for oily skin: use a good primer and moisturizer for oily skin. Always set this with a loose powder to prevent from oiling up
• apply in 2 ways: fingers or stippling brush
• if you are using this for clients or other people? Use the film/protector to grab a tiny amount of product so you don't contaminate the whole creme blush.
• if you prefer a natural flush, using this alone is ok, but if you want to give out an impact, top with a same shade of blush powder.
  

Will I repurchase?

No, not this shade. I will definitely check out other shades. Turkish rose (nudish rose shade) looks nice on tester!

Where to purchase and how much?

At BECCA counter ADORA, Greenbelt 5 for Php1,750 (approx $37.00)

A close up shot on Amaryllis
on cheek

Amaryllis Creme Blush
on Lips

What makes you flush naturally?
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!
Stay cheeky! :D