Nail Art Tutorial: "Sophisticated" Nails

Good day gorgeous people of the world!  How's the week treating you so far?  Good? Bad?  Keep your chin up no matter how tough life is!  We've gone this far!  

Enough with the inspirational talk!  *laughs* I know, I tend to preach!  I guess I'm way older than my age!  I do sound like a grandma!  

Last weekend, I had a couple of minutes to spare so I browsed through YouTube (which I seldom do nowadays due to a circumstance called...work! *lol*) and chanced up a lovely YT guru "Love4Nails".  She's done a very cute nail art tutorial which caught my attention and I'm inspired to do my own version!  I've used 3 different shades for this tutorial!  There's my love for pinks and reds I've added brown!  We all know pinks and browns are perfect match!  On makeup and nail art!

Step 1:

Apply your preferred base coat prior to nail polish application.  AMW is using The Face Shop's Base Coat.  Apply only 1 coat of ELF's Bubblegum Pink polish.   The reason for it is that I'll be layering 3 different polish colors!

Step 2:

As soon as the first coat of base polish dries, apply a hot red polish diagonally!  I am using ELF's Polish in Red.

Tip:  If you do not have steady hands, you can use a thin brush to draw an outline first, before filling the rest of the polish color!  

Step 3:

Same as step 2, wait for the 2nd polish color to dry up and apply a dark brown nail polish from Paul & Joe. 

Note from AMW:  You can clean up your nails, apply top coat and you're ready to go with this simple nail art!  If you want to make your life more complicated like I do, continue reading please! :D

Step 4:

Use Prettynails' 2 way nail art pen in silver glitter and apply thin, diagonal lines going on different directions as you prefer.

Step 5:

To make the glitters more obvious and create a nice "3d" look.  Top the silver glitter with a gold glitter from L.A. Art Deco in Gold.

Step 6:

Do not forget to protect your hard work with your preferred top coat.  I am using TFS Top Coat.

Sit back and relax as you wait for your polish to dry completely

Another tip: As soon as the nails are completely dry, you can use a cotton bud and wet it with your preferred acetone and clean up the sides of your fingernails for a cleaner, more sophisticated look!

Another pat on my back for another nail art tutorial!  I am seriously on the roll!  
I hope you like my nail art for the week!  Keep that smile coming and give me that big energy!!!


Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Daiso PE3 Lipstick

When I reviewed MAC's Pink Nouveau lipstick last week, I got such exciting responses on the "dupes" (duplicates) from different brands.  I really love it when AMW readers interact and share their thoughts on my site!  THANK YOU ALL for that!

In today's post, I will be doing something different, I won't be posting brand and shade names of "dupes" for MAC's Pink Nouveau, instead, I will be doing is a review on a cheaper lipstick that has the same impact as the most coveted lipsticks out there!  In short...Sexy Lip Color Minus the hefty price!  

Doesn't that sound sexier?

I recently purchased a Daiso lipstick in PE-3 available at local Daiso Store.   I seldom purchase random lipsticks from brands I haven't tried or heard but I got drawn to its unique shade. You'll know why!  Just pucker up!

Daiso PE-3 Lipstick says ---

Sorry, I can't read Japanese, so I really can't tell.

AMW says ---

Pros

• very unique shade
• pigmented
• inexpensive
• packaging is not bad at all
• no weird scent

Cons

• VERY drying
• enhances the lines and cracks of my lips
• not available anywhere, can only be purchased at Daiso stores
• made in China, led content could be a problem, so make sure to prime your lips to protect it
• alpha-numeric shade name which I find it too boring!  "What's your lipstick shade?"  "PE-3!" *gulps*  Doesn't sound nice at all!

Overall

The shade PE-3 is a deep warm peachy-pink lipstick that has a stronger peachy tone once swatched or applied on lips.  The shade, no doubt is really unique as I can use this alone on a bare face and it can still manage to brighten up the whole look.  The thing I don't like about this lipstick is its "crayon-like" texture, very drying and enhances the wrinkles on the lips.

For it's price, it's inexpensive so there's no reason to whine.  I can always take time to prep my lips prior to lipstick application and top it with my favorite lip gloss as the shade speaks for itself!

Tips

• use this lipstick alone ONLY if you have very soft and supple lips
• moisturize your lips several minutes prior to lipstick application, dab your lips with a tissue paper to prevent the lipstick from sliding once applied
• top with a clear gloss of your choice for a nice shiny lips
• use a lip brush for a more precise application (Thanks B for the Stila lip brush, I love it!)

Will I repurchase?

No, I've seen the rest of the shades, not intrigued!

Where to purchase and how much?
At Daiso store for Php88.00 (approx $2.00)

Daiso Lipstick PE-3
Applied on hand without base

The shade is "matte" in person, the flash from the camera showed a bit of shimmer

Applied on lips on prepped lips

*prepped lips: moisturized with Kiehl's no. 1 lip balm,

removing excess on tissue paper

Top with The Body Shop's Love Gloss

Now, the hunt continues...for an affordable "unique" lipstick shade minus the drying factor!
I'll definitely share what's on my map to stardom! *laughs*  (Where did that come from?)

Keep smilin' everyone

Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: TBS Lip and Cheek Tint

Ahhh, after a long weekend here in the Philippines!  Here comes Monday!!!  Even a cheerful and positive girl *ahem* woman like myself gets grumpy!  I am only human you know!  But a grumpy day can always be brighter for people around you if you exude a nice flush on your cheeks!  A flush off excitement, a flush of happiness! 

In today's post, I will be reviewing my first tint ever!  I know there are a lot of lip and cheek tints available in the market at the moment (a.k.a. Benetint).  Let me start with The Body Shop's first as this brand is available locally! 

Does it give me the flush I expect?

**photo from The Body Shop

TBS Lip and Cheek Tint says ---

A truly versatile product, Lip & Cheek Stain has a cult following - and here is your chance to discover a new shade to give your cheeks and lips a healthy-looking glow.  Use alone for fresh-faced allure or underneath the Kiss of Colour Cheek Blush or Hi-Shine Lip Treatment to intensify the look.  Presented in a sleek bottle with easy-to-use sponge applicator, the product features Community Trade aloe vera, and restores moisture, smoothness and suppleness to skin.  Available in 01 Rose Pink and the new Limited Edition 03 Shimmering Coral, Lip & Cheek Stain is a make-up must have for the new season.

Weekend Food Tripping at: Spicy Fingers Bar & Restaurant + Red Mango

When I dine in a restaurant, I make sure to order what I crave for right there and then!  My cravings will never be over the top!  I have cheap tongue you know :)  A regular fast food like KFC or Jollibee would make me happy!  

I don't know why we ended up at Greenbelt over the weekend, going out definitely means dining out.  A cute sign called "Spicy Fingers" caught my attention. The first thing that crossed my mind is "Spicy Chicken Fingers, and I love chicken fingers.  That's a good start!

After checking the menu, we've decided to give this restaurant a try!

As we sat at the window area with romantic candle, we've finally decided to order what we crave for.  I  crave for pasta and the Keith craved for main dish!

Penne Al Arabiata

Php320.00 (approx $7.00)

Sauteed pasta with smoked bacon, Hungarian sausage, chilies and tomatoes

Served with buttered bread sprinkled with pesto.  The serving is just right and the taste?  I would say it tastes just like regular Al Arabiata, nothing outstanding!

Baked Stuffed Chicken Breast

Php400.00 (approx $8.70)

Chicken breast stuffed with spinach, and mushroom Bechamel Sauce

This tastes good, again, nothing over the top but good.  I love the mashed potato and the Bechamel Sauce goes very well with the potatoes.  It would be great though if the restaurant offer choice of rice or mashed potatoes.  Keith would definitely go for rice!  Serving is a bit small, the breast part is not huge as compared to its price!  

Twining's Camomile Tea

Php70.00 (approx $1.50)

I am in the mood of warm tea and this one?  Well, who can go wrong with Twining's? 

Spicy Fingers, I can't really tell if it's a great restaurant or not as we only tried 2 of their dishes!  We may have to go back again to try their nachos, spicy Chicken fingers and Pad Thai, I heard they are great.  Be ready to pay an additional service charge.  The restaurant accepts both cash and credit card!

Spicy Fingers Bar and Restaurant

Greenbelt 2

Ayala Center, Makati 

Tel no: 632-489-0085

Before I end this post, let me share to you what I've been going gaga for the past weeks!  I am in love with Red Mango's Frozen Yoghurt!  I like my yoghurt plain! Ooooohh, I want one right now!!!!

Red Mango Plain Frozen Yoghurt

Medium size: Php115.00 (approx $2.50)

Yes darling, I can finish this all by myself! 

Enjoy your weekend food tripping!
Treat yourself so you're ready to face the coming week!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

I Wonder: "Does Scent Turns You Off?"

The most recent Burt's Bees product I've finished up is the Burt's Bees Lifeguard's Choice Lip Balm, I don't like it much as its drying,  it enhances my dry lips and it leaves a white color on my lips which made me look sick! But I can't deny the fact that I love the minty feel of Burt's Bees lip balms, I like how it makes my dry lips feel a bit better on a very bad lip day!  

My favorite Burt's Bees lip balm is the first one I've purchased, the Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm with Vitamin E & Peppermint.  It's the best I've tried out of all the Burt's Bees lip products I've purchased! 

When my dear beauty products supplier brother came back for a visit a couple of months ago, he gifted me  Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm which he bought from Canada!  Just in time as I just finished up the last Burt's Bees balm.

As soon as I open the cap and sniffed it... I nearly fainted.... not in a good way :(