AMW Reviews: Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

Tightlining (to apply eyeliner right to the lash line), creates full lashes!

Mascara application, makes your lashes look longer and fuller.

Eyelining, defines your eyes.

I hate doing all those because of one reason, I hate eye makeup removal!  Cleansing oils dissolve all types of makeup but I find them not removing eye makeup completely!  And who in the right mind would want to use oil near the eye area?  Well, I'm not always on the right mind but I don't like oil near my sensitive eyes!

I found a nice Eye Makeup Removers from Clinique and Lancome.  Because of the fact that these 2 are in liquid form, there could be a bit of eye irritations and stinging which I think isn't good for our poor eyes!

When dearest AMW Brother came back from his Canada trip year 2009, he gifted me a Kiehl's Travel Set which I love!  I love the way it was packaged dearly that I kept and stored it and nearly forgot about it!  Well, thanks to my organizing skills, I re-organized all my stuffs before the end of 2010 and I found this!

The name itself caught my attention, for a company to add the world SUPREMELY in the already Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, it must be really good right?  Agree? Disagree?  We'll see...

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover says ---

This lightweight and non-greasy lotion is specifically designed to gently remove eye make-up without stripping or stinging the delicate eye-area.

Contains: cucumber extracts, antioxidants and apricot kernel oil while utilizing a preservative especially selected for its use in ophthalmic products.  

Ophthalmologist-tested.  Safe for contact lens wearers.

AMW says ---

Pros

• A little is enough to remove eye makeup in one eye.
• The texture is cream-like, but once applied on the eye area, does not feel thick or heavy.

• Very gentle on the eye area, no stinging, blurring or itchiness occur.
• Removes all traces of eye makeup!  
• Can remove waterproof mascara, hard-to-remove gel liners, eyeshadow and even primer!
• I can even remove the eyeliner that I applied on both the upper lash line and lower lash line!
• I can go as close as removing eyeliner on the waterline without my eyes turning red!
• No weird scent, smells comforting actually!

Cons

• A pump packaging would be very much appreciated.  

Overall

This is my favorite Eye Makeup Remover to date!  I am waiting for challengers out there but for now, this won my heart!  I am not scared to tight line, apply thick liners and use coats and coats of mascara as I know I can easily remove this without much pressure at the end of the day!

This can be a bit more expensive as compared to other eye makeup removers out there, but the fact that its very gentle to your eyes and it protects your eyes from further irritations or *gasp* blindness, this is worth the price you pay!

Tips

• I prefer to use a cotton pad instead of cotton balls and fold it as you go on!
• One cotton pad is enough for eye makeup removal on both eyes (for regular, not-so-heavy eye makeup application)
• Wipe the opening prior to closing the cap to prevent "old product build up"

• One you squirt 1 pea size amount on the cotton pad, I suggest to fold it over so product will be evenly spread out.

 

• Leave on the eye area with lashes "upwards" for a couple of seconds before you start wiping.
• Be very gentle!  Wipe like you're wiping a one-month old baby's ass! *laughs*
  

Will I repurchase?
Yes!

To whom do I recommend this to?
Anyone who has problems with eye makeup removal and hates eye blurring and stinging feel!

Where to purchase and how much?

At local Kiehl's Store at Greenbelt Makati or SM Mall of Asia.  Price will be updated here as I will call in the store and check.  The product shown in this photo is a travel size gifted to me by Brother AMW!

With a pea size amount of Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, I press the product a bit onto my lashes then gently wiggle it.  Do this multiple times until mascara and eye makeup are completely removed!

I did not use a lot of products, just mascara, gel liner and eyebrow pencil.  See how dirty the cotton pad gets?

Here's my clean eye after eye makeup removal via Kiehl's!  

Definitely lives up to its name!  Supremely Gentle!

What's your favorite eye makeup remover to date?
Does it blur out your vision?  Or is it as supremely gentle as the Kiehl's?

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Weekly Winners: 2 CloseUp White Now Gift Packs

Dear Philippine Readers:

The chance to win Michelle Phan Signed Items + Instant Beauty Gift Pack is getting nearer!  After announcing the 2 consolation prize winners to try on CloseUp White Now for free, I have chosen another 2 before the contest ends! 

Congratulations to ---

LadyMishel

and

Marie Joyce Manongsong!

Michelle Ame (LadyMishel) and Marie Joyce Manongsong! I will email you to get your complete name so I can forward your names to the person who will handle your pick-up!

Again, let me clarify that the WINNERS and the joiners for weeks 1 to 4 CloseUp White Now Toothpaste contest are still eligible to win the grand prize which will end tomorrow night!  

Winners may claim their prizes at:
2104-A East Tower, PSE Center, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1605

If you are reading this post at this very moment and you haven't joined the 158 comments, what are you waiting for?  Smile and click HERE to join!  You only have a day left and ONE lucky reader will win such wonderful prizes! 

Goodluck!
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Something New: Havaianas 2011 Collection

For the feet who hates the feeling of wearing heels, wearing sandals is the answer for all my heel-related discomfort!  I love wearing sandals especially on a long day of make-up gig!  But wearing just a regular looking sandals defy "Nikki's Fashion".  What's my favorite out of the Havaianas 2011 collection?   00:30 under the Graffiti Line reminded me of cute cartoons, another one is under the Slim Cool Line at 1:18!    Mr. AMW would appreciate 0:43 For Night as he's always losing his slippers when lights are off!  It'll be cool to see that "glow in the dark"straps.

Well to be honest, there's a couple on the "kids' line" that I want for myself too!  I need to have a kid soon or else, I'll stay like a kid forever!

What are you looking forward to this Havaianas 2011 Collection?

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

Nail Art Tutorial: "Office-Friendly Floral Gradient Nails"

Dear Gradient Nails,

When I met you last year, I got hooked!  I've been wanting to do your style of nail art as many times as I want because you look so pretty even if you always started out looking like a piece of trash on my nails!  *sigh*  Now that I am discovering more and more ways to create different "you", I want to say, it's YOU and ME forever! :)

Do not mind my little note on my li'l gradient nails, I do have the tendency to talk to inanimate object because I am weird that way!  *laughs*  

I've been doing colorful nail art tutorial for the past weeks and a reader email caught my attention, she said she likes my nail art design but the thing is, she works in an office (not like mine) and she cannot be creative with her nails because it's not permitted!  *blush blush*  Thanks for the reminder, I totally forgot how strict some offices can get!  Because I apologize for being insensitive, here's my way of saying sorry :)  I made an "Office-Friendly" Floral Gradient Nails as peace offering....forgive me? *bats eyelash*  Not working?  Fine! *shows my nails*

Step 1:

Thanks to my bestfriend for gifting me this BW nail polish, base on the box, it's Made in Taiwan designed in Japan.  It's meant for gradient nails.

I applied one coat of the light peach shade as a base.  Prior to nail polish application, I chose to use a base coat to protect my nails.

Step 2:

Using the same shade, I apply a second coat, this time applying onto the top 3/4 portion shown on photo below.  Does not have to be perfectly measured! 

Step 3:

Using a light glittery pinkish shade that comes with the set, I applied another coat of this only on the "tip" area shown on photo below. Again, do not sweat a thing on this, just brush through the color until you are happy with the effect.

Step 4:

Using a colorless glittery polish, I applied the sparkle on the lower third of the nails as shown on arrow below.  It gives an illusion of gradient effect without harsh lines.  (just like eyeshadow application!)

Step 5: (OPTIONAL)

Strict office worker can stop on Step 4 and apply your preferred top coat.  In my case, simple nails aren't a thing for AMW.  I want to move forward with my favorite 2 toned flowers.  I apply 1 coat of clear polish.

Step 6:

While the clear coat is still wet, dropped 5 drops of Prettynails 2-Way Nail Art Pen in white for the petal to expand and blend into the clear polish.

Step 7:

While the white dots are still wet, quickly drop another shade of Prettynails' 2 Way Nail Art Pen.  In my case I chose purple.  You can leave the white petals the way it is but I prefer some colors! 

Step 8:

Let's not get tired with the needle method, use the needle to fix the petals, create sharp ends, or move it around if needed!  Yup, you can control them while it's wet!

Step 9:

You can choose to create dots after the clear polish gets dried up a bit to create 'embossed' dots.

Step 10:

Some people may leave the flowers as it is, in my case, I am a sucker for extra steps, I used L.A. Art Deco in Silver to create flower bud.  You can use rhinestones if you want a shinier petal.

Step 11:

Once nail art is completely dry, apply a coat of your favorite top coat.  I am using Elianto's.  My favorites are both Elianto and The Face Shop.

Voila!  Simple gradient nails not eye-catchy but nice enough to create a conversation!  People do come up to me thinking the flowers are nail stickers!

Keep in mind that flowers are not perfect in real life, so do not give yourself a hard time if the flowers you created are not consistently shaped!  Imperfection, at times, are the TRUE Beauty.  Well, I'm just saying!  :D

Hope my nail art for the week brightened up your work day!
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Caronia Nail Care

My love for nails has been forever!  It started when my best friend showed me gazillion shades of nail polishes and I swatched all 10 shades in each finger and found out I don't have a nail polish remover and have to go to school with my hands on "fist form" the whole day!  I guess if you ask me, that's when my love for nail polish started.

As soon as I graduated high school and college permits us to use nail polish on toe nails, I was all out!  No make up on face, but toenails could go as wild as shades of Black, Blue, Green and Purples, whatever shades you can think of!  

People do ask, how do I take care of my nails?  How do I clean them?  I have to admit, I do go to nail salons every now and then when I'm lazy to clean my own nails, but I do know how to do pedicure and manicure, and you know what?  I go back to simple nail care stuffs from the first nail care brand I was introduced to many years ago, Caronia!

Caronia Nail Polish Remover

Removes nail polish fast without drying.

AMW says ---

Pros

• If newly purchased, has this really tight seal to prevent product from evaporation which is good! 

• Has a nice hint of purple color.  Cute

• Does not create white "film" after nail polish removal.
• Does not dry out the cuticle and nails.
• Does not have a strong scent!
• Removes regular polish easily and without much effort.
• A few drops can remove polish.

• Inexpensive

Cons

• Can be easily spilled if not handled properly.
• Just like other makeup removers, it is difficult to remove glitter polish.

Overall

I can say, after years of trying out Caronia Nail Polish Remover, the formulation definitely has improved through the years!  I can definitely tell!  With the old formulation, I need to use a lot of drops to be able to remove polish on ONE nail, with the new formulation, I don't need to use a lot!

Tips

• In nail polish removal, using a "cotton pad" is better than cotton balls, you use lesser polish and lesser cotton pad!  One pad can remove nail polish of 5 fingers as you can fold it and reuse the areas that are clean as opposed to cotton balls.
• If you have glitter polish on or wild nail polish shades that are hard to remove, leave the cotton pad on top of the nails for a couple of seconds before you start massaging the cotton pad to remove nail polish.

• Always close cap tightly to present polish from drying out.
• Instead of removing the "foil" protection, create a "hole" with a ballpen or cutter instead to prevent accidental spillage!

• Do not throw the plastic bottle as you can always refill when you need to carry this around. 
• Do not use on broken skin.
  

Will I repurchase?

Yes

Caronia Cuticle Remover

Softens and helps remove overgrown cuticles, giving you a gentle manicure experience!

AMW says ---

Pros

• Comes with a brush which makes it easy to use!
• Does soften the cuticle which makes it easy to "cut" it or "push it" (depending on your preference)
• No weird scent.
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Some of the brush that comes with the packaging is too stiff!

 

Overall
I have been using the Cuticle Remover as long as I can remember!  I don't think I have tried using other brands!  This works!


Tips

• If you're not comfortable using a brush, you can transfer the content in a tiny spritz bottle and spritz the Cuticle Remover which makes life easier!
• Apply a generous amount Cuticle Remover on the "cuticle" area and leave it for a couple of seconds to allow cuticles to get soaked and soften before pushing. 
• After pushing, brush away excess.
• If you're not comfortable touching your cuticles, you can apply this all over your nails and use a "nail brush' to brush it just to have a "clean" look.
• Close cap tightly to prevent spillage.
• Keep bottle for refills and you can easily take this along.
• Do not apply on broken skin or skin with open wound.

Will I repurchase?Yes

Caronia Cuticle Sanitizer
Cleans, disinfects and sanitizes your nails while it keeps your cuticle healthy-looking!

AMW says ---

Pros

• Comes with a brush!
• Does not stain your nails as compared to other brands.
• Gives a light "color" which make your nails look clean but does not stay for long.
• Does not sting.
• Inexpensive.

Cons

• Brush that comes with the packaging could get a bit too stiff. 

Overall
Also a good product to own.  A lot of people skip this step but I have to say, this is very important to keep your fingernails clean and free from bacteria.


Tips

• Apply this after cleaning and pushing the cuticles.
• Gently brush on top of nails and distribute tint evenly for a healthy-looking cuticle.
• Allow to dry before you proceed on polish application.
• If not comfortable using the brush, same with Cuticle remover, you can choose to transfer the content on a spritz bottle for good distribution.
• Close cap tightly to prevent evaporation.

Will I repurchase?
Yes!

On a random note, I like storing my needles "to create flower petals" and also the "needle" of my 2-Way Nail Art Pens as I always tend to lose them if not kept properly!  This works! 

Where to purchase all these and how much?

Available in supermarkets, department stores, drugstores and health and beauty shops nationwide.
Nail polish remover - Php17.00 (approx $0.30) for 30ml
Cuticle remover - Php12.00 (approx $0.27) for 30ml
Cuticle sanitizer - Php13.00 (approx $0.29) for 30ml

Do you clean your own nails or do you leave it to the professionals?
If you do, what products do you use?

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!