Tip for the Day: Achieving Smoke and Fire Look with The Body Shop

Remember those days when I still have time to do "Looks"?  I know, I have been super bad with it and it has been more than a year since my last makeup look!  Things has been going crazy for the past year and I think I'm starting to accept the fact that --- I am ONE busy girl and I just have to deal with it!  But trust me, if I get the chance to squeeze in some Looks Tutorial, I'll definitely do it, but don't hold your breathe ok?

On my last report on The Body Shop's Autumn Trend 2010, I've shared to you the secrets on Achieving Perfect Base "a la" The Body Shop style!  True to what I've promised, today, I will be sharing the last leg of sharing the tricks and tips I've learned. 

Achieving Easy Smokey Look

by Ms. Dens Congco of The Makeup Den

Step 1:

Using The Body Shop's Kajal Eyeliner in black applied on the lashline and lid area.  Dens applied on the outer 2/3s on the lids blending with her clean fingers.

Step 2:

The Body Shop's Midnight Blue Eye Color patted on top of the Kajal Eyeliner with an eye brush.  Intensify as needed.  (Note from AMW: You can use any form of sparkling or matte eyeshadow color of your choice in this step.)

Step 3:

Using the same TBS Kajal Eyeliner in Black, line the upper lashline and lower lashline like you regularly do with an eyeliner.  The Kajal Eyeliner is dual purpose, works best as base and eyeliner.  

This step is done to intensify the eyes.

Step 4:

In creating smokey eyes, the undereye area is usually dirty, so clean up with a liquid concealer.  According to The Body Shop's Training Officer Ms. Argie Lingat, using a liquid based concealer is best for people with dry under eye area.  Cream based concealers tend to sit in fine lines thus enhancing it instead of hiding it.  

Dens used The Body Shop's Lightening Touch (a cheaper alternative to YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch).  She gently dabbed the liquid concealer blending it using patting motion.

Step 5:

Set with a loose powder using The Body Shop's Powder Brush.

Step 6:

Don't forget to fill in those eyebrows to complete the look!  Dens used The Body Shop's Eyebrow Powder mixing light and dark brown shades.

Step 7:

Let's not forget the blush, lipstick to complete the gorgeous look!

Thanks to Billie for being such a gorgeous model!  The rest of the beauty bloggers had their fair share of achieving Smoke and Fire look with the wonderful people from The Body Shop!

Ms. Argie Lingat did mine!   Sorry for the messy look, this was taken several hours after I got home! Well, after sleeping inside the car *yawns* :P

Before I end this post, I want to give a huge shoutout to my beauty blogger friend Shen!  Happy 27th Birthday dear Shen!  You've achieved so much for the past years and I am very proud of your achievements.  I am sure your mom (who is your angel watching over you) is proud of you as well!  May you be blessed with good health, fortune and of course...happiness!

Looking back Shenster, we have a lot of photos together no?  We are sisters in camwhoring for sure!!!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

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!