AMW Reviews: Pond's Pure White Deep Cleansing Foam with Activated Carbon

I've always associated Pond's with my "teenage" years.  The moment I stepped in college, I was armed with Pond's products to help me breeze through college worrying about my studies rather than my skin!  My skin has changed through the years, but that does not stop me from getting "intrigued" with new products produced from a brand close to my heart.

When I saw a commercial from Pond's for their new Pure White line, their deep cleansing foam with activated carbon caught my attention and what's even better?  When I was invited to checkout how activated carbon can do our skin with a "mini experiment", I told myself I'll give this a try after I finished my Ecobeau Sample cleansing foam (to those who wonder, I do finish the product before I go to the next). 

After 2 weeks usage.  Here's my experience...

Pond's Pure White Deep Cleansing Foam with Activated Carbon says ---

Pond's reveals its little black beauty secret with the new powerful Pond's Pure White Facial Foam!  It has the technology of activated carbon that attracts deep-seated "black" dirt caused by impurities, oil, and make-up to reveal a pure white you.

It is first of its kind to be formulated with activated carbon, which works with "black attracts black".  Carbon when heated or "activated" becomes 8x porous;  hence, increasing its ability to detoxify and gently exfoliate dead skin cells while retaining the needed moisture.

AMW says ---

Pros

• creamy consistency and not rough at all as it does not have beads.
• only a little amount is needed to cover the entire face, saves a lot of product!
• skin feels really smooth
• foams up easily
• skin felt refreshed and cleansed thoroughly after wash
• skin does not feel tight as what I've been worrying about
• no breakouts nor skin irritations after using this product
• simple, eye-catching packaging
• removes most traces of makeup on the face area (except the eyes)
• inexpensive product that works!
• both men and women can enjoy this product
• available in trial sizes, I reckon all skincare companies should do so, for consumers not to spend too much money on products that do not work!

Cons

• scent, some may find this scent a bit too manly (I don't mind though, it works okay as hubby likes the manly scent)
• a grayish tint of facial wash that says "Pure White" takes a bit of time to get used to

Overall

I have been scared in using any facial wash because I've had a lot of bad experiences with facial washes!  Most of the facial wash I've used stripped off my skin's natural oil and I ended up moisturizing a lot saving up on facial wash but spending more on moisturizer.  

With the new Pond's Pure White Deep Cleansing Foam with Activated Carbon, I actually find this quite good to clean up the makeup and dirt on my face at the end of the day minus the dryness!  The hubby is liking this product as well as he said it lessens the appearance of blackheads.

Tips

• if skin is super dry like mine, always follow with your favorite moisturizer to keep skin moist after wash
• if skin is normal/oily, do follow up with a moisturizer meant for normal/oily skin.  Never skip moisturizer just because you think you have enough "moisture" on your skin.
• if you find that using this daily is too much for you, you can alternate this product with your favorite moisturizer.  I use this usually at night time and use my regular moisturizing cleanser in the morning.
• don't want to waste your money?  Purchase a trial size for only Php5.00 before you purchase the full size! 

Will I repurchase?
Yes!

Where to purchase and how much?
At leading groceries, drugstore and department stores.
5 g for Php5.00 (approx $0.10), 10g for Php15.00 (approx $0.30), 50g for Php80.00 (approx $1.78) and 100g for Php150.00 (approx $3.33).

Sleek black shiny packaging, squeeze-y type tube like regular Pond's Facial Wash

A little goes a long way.  Foam comes out with a hint of grey color

I know I've been a bit late in giving this a try!  I'm glad I did!
Thumbs up from Mr. and Mrs. AMW!
Have you gave this new product a try?
How's your experience?

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Nail Art Tutorial: "Promod Top" Inspired Nails

Good morning!  Are you well rested to start the week right?  If you missed last week's nail art tutorial, well, I was able to do a nail art design but since I was home alone and there's no photographer helping me out to take  a photo, I wasn't able to take a good picture of it!  Sorry!  

This week, I wanted to start the week right with nails that screams "Simplicity is Beauty"!  I was inspired by my Promod Top which I wore on my Vaseline Road Trip Adventure.  Photo taken at Bangui Windmills.

And here's my nails inspired by my outfit on top!

How do we create such nails? Easy!  Just follow steps below...

Step 1:

Apply your preferred Base Coat to protect your nails.  I recently repurchased The Face Shop's Base Coat (click HERE for review).  Apply 2 coats of Elianto's White Polish and The Face Shop's Nail Color in BL604.  Alternate both colors.

Step 2:

Create thick French Tip alternating both shades used. 

White French Tip on Blue fingernails

Blue French Tip on White Fingernails

Step 3:

Using any thin brush.  In my case, I am using L.A. Art Deco polish in white to create lines, just like my outfit inspiration.

Create lines on the dark blue French Tips

Create longer lines on the dark blue base of the nails

Step 4:

Choose any glitter polish (either gold or silver), apply L.A. Colors Art Deco Gold for that nice contrast.

Step 5:

Making sure the design is completely dry, protect your nail art design with your preferred top coat.  I am using Elianto's Top Coat. 

Sit back and enjoy your newly designed nails!  Simple yet gives out a loud statement!

Hope my nail art tutorial brings out the smile on your lips :)
Have a wonderful and meaningful week ahead!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Weekend Food Tripping at: Focaccia + Lorys Hair Cream 5 Winners

For my friend's Despedida Soltera party, we gave her a surprise party at Focaccia, at The Fort.  I have always wanted to give this restaurant a try as I've read good reviews about their Pazzo Rollo.  How did my tummy find it after dining in here?  Worth to go back to this place?

Spinach and Artichoke Formaggio

served with focaccia bread

Love this, I actually downed myself with 3 focaccia bread!

Arugula Shrimp Salad

Arugula, onion and shrimps served with lemon vinaigrette

I love salad but I'm not a fan of this, the leaves are quite bitter for my taste

Calamari Fritti

Fried calamari served with aioli sauce

Aioli sauce is also known as Garlic sauce.  This appetizer is love!

Bruschetta con Pomodoro

Toasted ciabatta bread (my favorite) topped with tomato, 

sundried tomato, basic and fresh mozzarella

This is super filling!  But tastes great.  Love the crunchy ciabatta bread

Meatballs Pasta

Blend of pork, beef, regato and herbs in tomato sauce

I am not a fan of spaghetti meatballs but I actually love this!  

Probably the mix of pork and beef made this dish unique to taste.

Scampi Victoria

Lemon olive oil based pasta with sauteed shrimps and basil herb

I took a taste of this and another unique dish! I did not eat a lot because of the shrimps 

but this is a nice olive oil based pasta for a different taste in the mouth!

Prosciutto Tartufo

Truffled cream sauce with prosciutto and mushroom slices

I am a fan of cream based pasta and this is no exception!

Pazzo Rollo

The restaurant's specialty!

Gambini - consists of ham, bacon, salami and cheese sauce

Capellini - shrimp, garlic and pesto sauce

Sette Formaggi - fetta, mozarella, cheddar, romano, gorgonzola, ricotta, cream cheese

Chicken Pancetta

Pancetta slices and cheese wrapped in chicken roasted in olive oil served on farfalle noodles

Love the mini potatoes that goes with this dish!

Red Iced Tea

Wonderful experience dining in this restaurant, experience something unique and different.  Such a nice dining place and the ambiance of the restaurant is really great for friends, families and even for couples on a date!  Great service and parking space is quite far though!

I have to add that the restaurant also serves Angelati Italia Gelato for Php120.00 (approx $4.00) per scoop.

Focaccia

The Fort Strip

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Winner 1

Roxan Go

Winner 2

Jam Malicden

Winner 3

Leilani Sonza

Winner 4

Mel Rodriguez

Winner 5

Sella Escosa Goden

Congratulations to the Lorys Hair Cream winners!  I will email you for details on how we can meet up for the products!

Happy weekend food tripping!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

I Wonder: "Do You Hide Beauty Marks?"

Oh Saturday, how I love thee! =)

If you read my tweets and Facebook stats, you'll know that I was busy with a 3 day shoot for an AVP a week ago, it was really tiring but one of the best makeup gig experience I've ever had!  

In this shoot, I've met a model, she's Australian, French and Filipina.  Anthea's background is really impressive!  She's done a couple of runway shows, TV commercials (ex. Lucky Me Saucy, Del Monte Fit n' Right, etc...) and she can also act and worked for a film and you have probably seen her in previous "Magkaribal" episodes. 

Being her makeup artist on this 3 day shoot, I am in charge of her makeup and I create her looks base on what the director is aiming for.  Before doing someone's makeup, I make sure to study the facial features first and create a "Face Chart" inside my head.  When I saw her pretty face, I can see that she has a beauty mark on the left side of her cheek near the nose. 

Which led me to this "I Wonder" question for the week ---

"If you have beauty marks, do you hide it with make up?"

"If you don't have beauty marks, do you think people who do should hide it?"

You want to know my answer?  Well, I've decided not to!  As her beauty mark is actually pretty on her face and it doesn't disrupt the focus of her overall look! The least I could do is to "lighten" it a bit with makeup but not totally be a trying hard in hiding it!

Here's my before and after shot of her

Makeup used ---

For the Face

• Becca Silky Hydrating Primer - concentrating on the drier areas of her face
• Graftobian Cream Foundation - as foundation and concealer
• Paul & Joe Compact Powder Foundation 020

For the Eyes

• Paul & Joe Eyebrow Pencil no. 2
• Guerlain eye primer
• Lancome 6 Color Focus Powder Eyeshadow - Gold and Matte Brown
• MAC Carbon eyeshadow
• Stila Smudgepots in Black
• Paul & Joe Curly Mascara in Black - curled with Shu Uemura Lash Curler
• Elianto Stay On Eyeliner Pencil in Black - waterline
• Urban Decay Glide On Eyeliner Pencil in Yeyo - on inner waterline to make the eyes pop

For the Cheeks

• MAC Shadester - to contour the nose and the cheeks
• Nars Blush in Orgasm
• Set with MAC Blot Powder 

For the Lips

• Kiehl's no. 1 Lipbalm - blot with a tissue paper
• Revlon Lipstick in Soft Rose - applied using a lip brush
• The Body Shop Love Gloss Clear - on the center of the lips for a nice fullness

And here's her close up shot!  With the beauty mark, she looks gorgeous the way she is....
(Photo uses Flash, so face may look too fair, but in person, it's not) 

Have a lovely Saturday everyone!
Keep that smile and love the way you are!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Tip for the Day: Achieving Perfect Base with The Body Shop

Most of you have read my Report on The Body Shop's Autumn Trend 2010 event, and as I promised, I will be sharing what I learned in this event! 

The event started when the pretty and no-makeup, Ms. Billie Liboro-Palabyab, PR Manager' Trainee of the Body Shop Philippines, introduced us to the lovely Smoke and Fire makeup collection.

I got really excited when we were introduced to The Body Shop's Finalist for the Asia-Pacific Regional Make-up Competition, Ms. Roma Reposo, to teach us how to achieve perfect base, The Body Shop style!

I have tried my best to remember everything but spare the old and forgetful brain that I have!  I'll share to you the simplest method I've learned so you can achieve your own perfect base!  

1. Pre-foundation application - use a primer if necessary especially on areas that oil up easily.  

In this photo: Roma applied  The Body Shop's Skin Primer Matte It on Billie using a foundation brush for more precise and even application.

2. Foundation and concealer application - always test foundation color on your jawline to determine which foundation is best for you.  You can always mix 2 shades to achieve a better shade close to your skin tone.  

In this photo: Roma mixed 2 shades of The Body Shop's Oil-Free Balancing Foundation adding extra foundation on areas that needed the most coverage (undereye circles, sides of the nose, etc...)

In this photo: A concealer brush was used to cover redness and blemishes

In this photo: You can always stand back and check if there are areas that you missed that needed more attention

3. Setting the foundation  - after concealer and foundation application, lightly dust with Loose or Pressed Face Powder to set.

In this photo: Loose Face Powder was used with Smudger Brush for smaller areas

In this photo: A powder puff was used to set the whole face with a patting motion.  Try not to apply too much to keep skin fresh and natural looking.

4. Contouring  - Use a matte contour powder and brush onto forehead, cheeks, chin, nose and decolletage for that natural contoured look!

In this photo: The Body Shop's Bronzing Powder was swept lightly on Billie's nose.

In this photo:  To pop Billie's cheeks and create a nice contour, Roma used a blush brush (but she strongly suggests to use a slanted blush brush) on the hollow of the cheeks.  You can achieve this by sucking in your cheeks.

5. Post-Application Technique - Spritz The Body Shop's Vitamin E Face Mist to set foundation/ powder and keep complexion looking fresh throughout the day!

And here are photos to share for you to see the rest of the lovely people who attended the event!

 

Stay tune for another tip on how to create a simple smokey eyes using Kajal Liners as base from Ms. Dens Congco, the Chief Make Up Artist of The Makeup Den.  I'm sure you'll get a tip or two and you can achieve these looks even with your current makeup!

A shoutout to Ms. Rozanne Salcedo and Ms. Argie Lingat, for making my makeover such a pleasure! 

Have a wonderful Friday!
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!