AMW Reviews: SkinFood Dark Circle Salmon Concealer

Have you perfected your own makeup routine?  Is there a "safe" look because youl know it'll never fail to make you gorgeous?

I know I do, but there's something lacking with my overall look!  I tried to deny it but I have to face the truth that the dark undereye circles hindered me from looking "awake" and...well... a bit...prettier! *blushes*

Experiment after experiment, research after research, I've learned that mild darkness can be covered with regular foundation, and during those days that you're not into wearing foundation, a concealer one to two shades lighter than your skin is enough to cover the unsightly!

But what if your dark undereye circles are just too evident?  That's where salmon hued concealers come to the rescue.  Why salmon hue you ask?  The salmon hue of a concealer can blend right away into the purplish tone of the undereye circles which can cover the darkenss and brighten up the entire eye area and even the face!

The first salmon hue concealer I've heard is the one from Eve Pearl, I tried purchasing online but shipping is just too expensive.  That's why when The Skin Food, came out with a salmon concealer, the rest of the nation, including me went ga-ga and I told myself I have to give this a try!  Is it worth the purchase?  Read on....

SkinFood Dark Circle Salmon Concealer says ---

Contains triglyceride which is similar to skin constituent, so it can be applied on the weak skin around the eyes.
Concentrated and creamy, it effectively covers dark eye circles and wrinkles.  Can be easily applied without irritation.

Available in 2 shades: 

01 (light beige)
02 (natural beige) - this is what I purchased

AMW says ---

Pros

• perfect to conceal undereye circles because of it's "orangey" shade which counteracts the dark undereye
• very creamy and easy to blend with both fingers and concealer brush
• do not set in fine lines or wrinkles
• moisturizing but not oily
• lasts whole day if set with powder
• one pot lasts a long time
• very pigmented, a little goes a long way
• no weird scent
• no allergies
• cute pot!

Cons

• only available in 2 shades, they could go for more! :)
• I find its a bit difficult to get the product with your fingers especially if you have long nails like myself (please read tip below)

Overall

If you have dark undereye circles, this is a good product to invest and practice on this to perfect the best concealing technique.  If you get the hang of this, you'll love this!

Tips

• apply this with your fingers or your concealer brush gently after foundation application
• set with your preferred powder 
• to prevent bacteria from the pot, use a concealer brush to grab the product and apply on your undereye circles instead of dipping your fingers
• use patting motion, never rub your eyes
• apply more as you go, do not apply too much at one time
• even though this is moisturizing enough for your eye area, please do not skip your eye cream!

Will I repurchase?

This isn't a bad product, I don't mind repurchasing but I have to finish this first!

Where to purchase and how much?

You can purchase this at SkinFood stores for Php950.00 (approx $20.65) or you can pre-order in various multiply stores for lesser the amount but you have to wait!

SkinFood Dark Circle Salmon Concealer #2 on pot

Left: no Flash, Right: with Flash

Swatch on hand, left applied once, right blended while

Note: not too orange as compare to pot

Here's how I applied my SF Dark Circle Salmon Concealer

1. Using a concealer brush to transfer concealer to my undereye area, I use my clean fingers to gently pat the concealer on areas needed to be concealed, adding as needed.
2. Stand back and check on areas needed to be concealed, the areas near the lower lashline needed more, so I use a smaller concealer brush to reach the said area.  Be very gentle.
3. Blend well using your fingers, again, use patting motion, never rub! 
4. Set with your preferred powder.  In this photo, I am using Neutrogena's Fine Fairness UV Compact #21 Natural Beige.

Before and After shot to show the effect 

(no Photoshop or any form of alteration, 

lighting could be a bit different due to a bit of camera movement, 

but you get the point) :P

Are you purchasing this or have you purchased this?
How do you like it?  Tell AMW by clicking comment button! :)
An extra tip will be very much appreciated too!

Have a wonderful Monday!
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Weekend Food Trip at: Gumbo Restaurant

Happy weekend food tripping dear readers!  How was the weekend treating you?  Been waking up late today?  Well I know I am!  I've had a long and tiring week so this day will be "Me" day. 

I've had a nice weekend food tripping with the family.  It's actually a fourth or fifth visit for this restaurant at Robinson's Place, Ermita.

Gumbo... A Taste of New Orlean

I haven't tasted New Orlean dishes but hey, if they said so! :)

Served "on the house", their freshly baked bread with olive oil.  I love this!  Even my brother who isn't a bread lover asked for second serving!

I Wonder: "Do You Use Round Cosmetic Sponge to Apply Setting Powder?"

Happy weekend everyone!  I will be off for another makeup gig and will have a nice dinner date with  my family!  That means, a very busy weekend again!  The whole week has been hectic but it was a good kind of busy as I've met a couple of bloggers via events that I've attended.  Sometimes, I'd love to just sit back, and think about the changes that has happened to me since I've started to blog.  And I just can't stress enough that meeting new people from different backgrounds gives me the natural "high"! :)

On with the post....

The inquiring mind of AMW has another "I wonder" moment as I checked back the stuffs I bought from Japan Home Center.  The UBL Round Cosmetic Sponge!  These are not the best round sponges available inn the market but it is ok enough for its price and perforrmance to be included in my make up traincase for those "spur of the moments" or in more panic term....emergencies!  That's why I hoarded these stuffs and have them with me all the time, I am a HOARDER and I am proud of it!

UBL Round Cosmetic Sponges purchased at Japan Home Center 2pcs for Php66.00 (approx $1.43)

AMW wonders ---

"Do you use round cosmetic sponges to apply your setting powder?

       Do you like it or not?"

Personally, I may be a hoarder but I don't use this on myself.  I've tried setting my makeup with these sponges thrice but I ended up with a powder brush instead as I find using the sponges a bit too heavy for my taste for daily use. 

To the oily skinned readers out there, you can use these sponges to set your powder but pllease use an oil blotting sheet prior to to setting your powder with these especially if you're starting to oil up.  This prevent your powder from creating uneven patches due to oil build up.

Why do I carry these around on gigs?  I use these at times when I apply eye makeup on clients to prevent my hands and fingers from touching the clients' faces!  If you're a makeup artist, choose the sponges that has handle like the photo above!

Now it's your turn to click COMMENT and spill the beans on my I Wonder query!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Blinc Kiss Me Mascara

Great morning everyone!  I am on the roll with reviews!  And I'm glad it's another mascara review and this time, it's not the regular mascara we all knew and loved!  A brand called Blinc came out with a mascara that says... "Stop Painting Your Lashes...Tube Them!"

Before I go further with the review, I want to clarify that I own the sample size, I'd rather try it first before purchasing a full size to make sure I'll love the product!  A sample size would last me approximately 10-14 days of usage!  I've used this for more than a week and I'm still using this to date!  

A close up shot on the sample sized wand

Blinc Kiss Me Mascara says ---

Kiss Me Mascara is the original mascara invented to form tiny water-resistant “tubes” around your lashes rather than painting them like conventional mascaras. Once applied, the tubes bind to your lashes and cannot run, smudge, clump, or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes.

Kiss Me Mascara will add both volume and length to give you a radiant natural look that lasts all day. Only when you are ready for removal, the tubes will effortlessly slide off your lashes into your hand without the use of a harsh makeup remover.

All it takes is the combination of lots of warm water and gentle pressure, from your fingertips, a washcloth or water pressure (i.e. shower) and the tubes will slide off your lashes effortlessly. Upon removal you will actually see the tiny tubes in your hand!

Kiss Me Mascara has been clinically tested to be non-irritating making it ideal for sensitive eyes, contact lens wearers, and active people in search of a mascara whose look, hold and ease of removal is without compromise.

Available in: Black, Dark Brown, Purple

AMW says ---

Pros

• no flaking
• lengthens 
• curls held quite well
• lasts the whole day without smudging or even falling remnants of mascara
• perfect for sensitive eyes because the mascara flakes doesn't get into the eyes
• no raccoon eyes
• no clumping
• does not make the lashes "crunchy" as compared to regular mascaras
• super easy to remove
• easy to apply
• dries off easily upon application
• does not irritate my eye especially when I remove it at night as I only use warm water with slight pressure, no residue left 
• stays on oily lids and even on our hot weather

Cons

• if you are looking for extreme and exaggerating volume, this isn't the one
• a bit pricey to others who aren't used to spending a lot on mascaras (but there's good news, locally, Beauty & Minerals sells sample size)

Overall

For cry babies out there, for you...who has the oiliest of all oily lids, the "I love to rub my itchy eyes" kind of girl and of course, to all of us who lives in a hot, humid weather, we finally got an answer to our mascara problems!  

If you love to double the length or even triple the length of your lashes that can still look natural, this is the perfect one!  Though the volume side is not as much as compared to other mascaras, it's still a "winner" because of it's ultimate smudge-free, budge-proof properties! 

Tips

• curl your lashes prior to mascara application
• never pump your mascara to keep the shelf life longer
• no need to wait for mascara to set, just keep on applying til your desired length and volume
• apply like regular mascara making sure to "cover all areas", not to forget the lash corners
• using damp soft cloth, close your eyes and gently remove the mascara with downward strokes, I prefer doing this than my fingers as I may poke my eyes or accidentally pull out my original lashes 
• don't want to spend a lot?  Purchase the sample size first and see if you like the product or not! 
• my personal choice to "volumize" my lashes, I apply a regular volumizing mascara first then I tube it with Blinc Mascara, then comb quickly with a lash comb to prevent clumps, it works!
• if you are faint-hearted, please be warned that the "tube mascara" comes off like your own lashes!  Do not panic and think that you're losing  your original lashes! *Breathe in...breathe out* calm down...

Will I repurchase?

I am not a fan of purchasing expensive mascaras, but looks like this is an exception to my own rule.

Where to purchase and how much?
Locally, at Beauty & Minerals site
full size for Php1,350 (approx $29.34)  
sample size for Php350.00 (approx $7.60)
Special discount for 2 or more product Php1,300 (approx $28.26) per piece.

Here's an "almost" top view of my 

Blinc "Kiss-ed me" Mascara :D

Side view, this was applied 2x without lash primer

And here's a photo to show how it comes off easily

Have you tried Blinc mascara or any "tube" mascara?  What's your experiences?
I'd love to hear from you!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!
Happy Friday!

Something New: DKNY Fresh Blossom + Coming Soon!

One thing I like about fragrances are their packaging!  The more eye-catching the packaging, the more intrigued I am to take a sniff.

Floral scent has always been my choice!  Florals are always associated with being romantic, sweet and of course!  Feminine!  I recently took up a "What's Your Signature Scent" quiz and I was a bit surprised I came across to be a Citrus-y person.  I am actually between Citrus-y and Floral.  As I checked back the scents I have in my collection, the quiz result was actually right!  I am in love with floral and citrus scents!

No wonder when I got my own DKNY Fresh Blossom (thanks Rizel from DKNY),  my nose hairs are doing the "Happy Dance" *laughs*! Am I gross or just plain gross? *hahaha*  But scroll down to see why I'm so excited about this!

The  DKNY apple is transformed into its comic counterpart filled with ben-day dots and thought  bubbles  Take a juicy bite of a scent that is innocent, lighthearted, intensely feminine, and radiant in a pop art inspired limited edition bottle.

Aside from the wonderful sweet smelling scent I've always loved about DKNY, they've also packaged this in the cutest packaging ever!  The color is just perfect for a pink lover like myself!  This will definitely be displayed on my "fragrance" collection even if I finished this up.

Suggested Retail Price: Php3,100 (approx $67.00) for 50ml
Available at Rustans Department Stores

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And you think they'll stop there?  A "little birdie" told me that there's going to be a new scent coming this May under DKNY Brand: CANDY APPLES.

This is the ultimate treat dipped in syrup of urban sweet.  Creating a candy apple is about pairing the sweetness of candy with a juicy, ripe apple.  This pairing has been made perfected and with that, they are able to create three new Candy Apple Fragrances:  Sweet Caramel, Ripe Raspberry and Juicy Berry.

More and more cosmetics, skincare and fragrance companies are housing their stuffs in a really cute and eye-catchy packaging!  I like that!  You know why?  Because for someone like myself,  and to a lot of you out there...little pleasures in life, as simple as these, can make my day!  I hope it does the same to you!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!