Readers' Corner: Bright, Dewy Look

To have a successful makeover, a good base/skin is a not-so-secret "secret" that we need to master!  No matter how gorgeous your eye makeup or lipstick shade is, if your skin looks blotchy or reddish, it may divert the focus to your flaws!

And we don't want that!

Not everyone is lucky enough to be born like goddesses we see on magazines or television! Not everyone has porcelain looking skin like that of Korean Actresses.  But you know what?  We may not have perfect looking skin but we can (at least) fake it a bit --- with cosmetics.

Yes, you heard it right!  That's why cosmetics companies are multi-million dollar business!  The right way to apply your makeup can make your skin glow naturally!

We do not have to be make-up artists to follow us around on a day-to-day basis! Nobody knows your face the way YOU do!  So, it pays to master your own skin and face before you move on mastering other make-up techniques!

To answer AMW Reader Request, I will be showing the quickest, easiest way to (at least) fake a glow!

Step 1:

After your skin care routine, you can choose a BB Cream that has a bit of sparkles like or gives glow like my Skin79 VIP Gold or use brightening primer!  One that I can suggest is from Benefit's "That Gal" brightening face primer.  If you are not comfortable using both primers or bb cream, use a moisturizer that gives a good glow.  On top of my head, a very inexpensive product you may try is the Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer.  (Smile and click HERE for review).

Step 2:

Cover dark areas with a concealer or a foundation you own that's a shade or 2 lighter.  I concentrated on my under eye circles and the sides of my nose.

Step 3:

Make your cheeks pop with a cream blush or shimmery blush!  One nice suggestion to use is a bronzer!

Step 4:

If you have oily skin, you can pat on a shimmery powder blush on top of the cream blush.  Highlight your cheekbones, the bridge of the nose with a light eyeshadow shade or powder foundation for that instant glow!

Skip setting powder application as it can mattify your skin!  You can opt to spritz MAC Charged Water or Evian Brumisateur to prevent powdery look!  Step back, check out your reflection making sure your face matches the color of your neck!

Now you're ready to do your brows, eye makeup etc... as you already have a clean, bright, dewy-looking canvass to work with!

Acck! See how my brows are full but there are gaps in between?  Now you understand why eyebrow pencils are vital for me! :)

If you want a very natural look, here's what you can do:

• Fill in your brows using brow gel, brow powder or brow pencils.
• Curl your lashes and apply coats of mascara.
• Apply a very natural gloss or a clear lip gloss!

You're ready to face the world looking nothing but YOURSELF!
Have a gorgeous Friday everyone!
Readers who requested for this, I hope this helps!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Filextra Facial Revolumizing Treatment with Collagen

Happy Thursday!  As the weekend is getting close, I am getting more anxious as I have such a full week!  I am also preparing for my mom's birthday!  Made it super special as she's a survivor and I'm so proud of her!  Thanks to such a wonderful family support system!  

Talking about support, we definitely need support to continuously look young and have healthy-looking skin!  I've blogged and reviewed GSL (GoodSkin Labs) products and I love it dearly that I incorporated some of their products to my make-up client!  Some of my clients loved it so much I actually got calls and text messages asking me where I purchase as they are buying themselves one!  

I was excited when GSL came up with another product called FILEXTRA Facial Revolumizing Treatment with Collagen!  Collagen is my bestfriend for someone who's on their 30's!

GSL Filextra says ---

An instant way to help revolumize the appearance of time-sunken skin. Meet Filextra — another breakthrough from the scientists at GoodSkin Labs.

Filextra is smart. It targets areas where gravity’s taking its toll — cheeks, under the eyes, anywhere skin’s thinning while also providing critical hydration. It’s the ideal daily moisturizer for tired, sallow, sagging skin.

All New Triple-Action Reconstruction Technology:

1. Rebuilds HyActive. A topical form of an ingredient used in dermatologist treatments, triggers skin to stimulate natural Hylauronic Acid production while Natural Collagen Boosters help create a more supportive, more stable skin structure.
2. Refills Aqualence. A GoodSkin Labs discovery, helps replenish skin's H2O to optimal levels to restore youthful plumpness where fullness has been lost.
3. Revolumizes.  An advanced Lipid Filling Complex fills in the gaps, acting as a protective barrier to surround the newly added H2O so skin can hold onto essential revolumizing moisture.

AMW says ---

Pros

• Squeeze type packaging easy to control how much product needed to use.

• A little is enough to feel hydration.
• Though it takes a bit of time for the product to absorb into the skin as compared to other brands, this is very potent and once absorbed, it stays that way the whole day.
• No weird scent.
• No allergic reactions.
• My make up application is quicker and easier, it goes on smoothly minus the caking!
• After a month usage, my skin doesn't feel tight or dry but it feels moisturized and and looks healthy!  I can see a film of healthy glow on my cheek area as that's were I concentrate application of the product.

Cons

• The plumpness cannot be seen ASAP (just like regular skin care products), need to use this regularly. 
• A bit pricey at first glance, but this is worth it as a little is enough for your whole face.
• No SPF, need to use separate SPF for daytime use.
• Oily skinned individuals may find this too rich.

Overall

I don't have hallow cheeks or deep lines that are visible at the moment (thank you Lord) and I can't see results at this early stage, but for now, all I can say is the product works in terms of hydration.  My skin feels soft and it never looks or feels dry no matter how many times I pat on powder foundation.

Tips 

• Squeeze a small amount of product on your clean hands/fingers.
• Rub between your hands and gently pat on the product on areas that needed extra hydration.  Do not forget to apply the hallow areas of your face like the under eye area.
• Best applied after your skincare before make-up application.
• Best used every morning and evening.  You can also use once a day.
• Test product below the ear and leave it for more than 12 hours to see if you're allergic to the product or not.
• Apply a bit more on the cheeks or areas that needs more moisture and plumpness.

Will I repurchase?
 Yes.


To whom do I recommend this to?

Dry, normal, combination skinned individuals.  Oily skin can still use this but may prefer to use this as a night cream.

Where to purchase and how much?

Filextra Facial Revolumizing Treatment with Collagen costs Php2,800 (approx $67.00) at Watsons Personal Care Stores, Beauty by SM Department Stores and Marionnaud Mall of Asia.

A closer look on Filextra's Texture and Color

The texture is smooth and easy to spread all over face.

The scent is very mild, almost no scent at all!

Once blended a bit

Creates a bit of white cast...

but this will go away once absorbed!

My hand with Filextra

You can click photo to enlarge to see 

how moisturized and healthy my hand look.

 

Have you tried any GoodSkin Labs product?
What's your favorite "fountain of Youth" product?
I would say moisturizer!  It makes a HUGE difference to have moisturized skin!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

(Note from Author: Product sent for PR consideration.  The author is not affiliated with the company. All information written are based solely on author's personal experiences.  Please purchase at your own discretion.)

AMW Version: Here Comes the Rain

Rainy days can put me in a gloomy mood!  It's not because I hate the rain but I dislike the flood, traffic and danger it gives to everyone!  

I am trying to put something positive into everything that's happening around us that's why I thought of creating a Rainy Day Look!  I thought of the dark blue sky, that explains the colors I used!

AMW Diagram

Step 1:

Apply a primer if you want for the eyeshadow to look more vibrant and stay longer.  I used Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer.  I penciled my crease area with Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Teal and top it with Laura Mercier's Blue Sky Eye Quad using the color as pointed by the brush.

Step 2:

With a blending brush, blend out harsh lines from the blue shadow with Dollface Green shade eyeshadow.

Step 3:
Apply light shimmery orange eyeshadow (same from Dollface palette) on the brow bone area.

Step 4:

With a pencil brush, apply the same blue shadow used on Step 1 on the lower lash line.

Step 5:

Apply gel liner.  I am using KATE Gel Liner in Black

Optional:

Apply falsies.  I am using KKCenterHK's ES A155 which is one of the longest and fullest lashes I've tried to date. I am liking the lashes from ES as they are long but not heavy at all!  It feels so light!

 

  

Here Comes the Rain

What's on the rest of my face?

Secret!  *just joking* :P

For the Face

INuovi Lite Base  in 3Y

Revlon ColorStay Powder Foundation

For the Cheeks

MAC Superduper Natural Mineralized Blush

 For the Lips:
NYX Black Label Lipstick in Acapulco

Revlon Colorburst 004 Pink Ice

Rain or shine, 

I'm ready to face the world with a huge smile!

After I removed my falsies, here's how bare my real lashes look! :)

Girls can really cheat with makeup!
Guys....BEWARE!  *laughs*

Do you look different with falsies on?
It depends, the really long ones can give a huge impact to my tiny eyes!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Etude House Drawing Eye Brow Pencil

It is very important to draw one's brows correctly!  Too thin brows may make you look old, too thick brows may make you look like someone who forgot to trim their brows! Everyone should master their own brows because it can indeed change your overall look!

I've married myself to Eye Brow Pencils when I first bought my Paul & Joe Eyebrow Pencils few years back, I find it easy and I can even change the shade of my dark brows to match the color of my hair!

Today, I will be talking about another Eye Brow Pencil I've been using for months because I lost the other 2! :(  So sad! I lost the Tears and The Face Shop! *sigh*

**photo from company site

Etude House Drawing Eye Brow

Etude House Drawing Eye Brow says ---

Nail Art News: Angry Birds Part 2 shown at Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho

Remember my Angry Birds Nail Art Tutorial?  (click HERE for the link) 

I guess I was searched by the Researcher of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho as I was contacted to feature my Angry Birds Nail Art on it's Angry Birds Video Game Craze Segment for July 2, 2011 Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho episode.

I still have my Jolly Bee nails on and I was asked to redo my Angry Birds nail art design all  over again just for the show!  It wasn't easy as I got home super light the night before but I was able to do it!  Thank God for training me to sleep late! *hehehe*

Here's a screen shot of the short clip by the way!  Surprisingly, I wasn't that nervous "showing off" my childish art  :P

A closer look, that's the best screen shot I can get as I was wiggling my fingers as advised by the Segment Producer.

**Both screen shots taken from YouTube Channel of DCRJPhilippines's.

Here's a closer look on my Angry Birds Nail Art Part 2.  I actually tweaked the design a bit!  The placing of the characters are still the same But I've shown some heads and hair of the birds.  For the pigs, I've added eyebrows, and some -- helmet!

Let's check out our favorite Red Angry Bird getting its revenge to the scared pig!

I want to thank Romabell, Segment Producer for Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho and 2 cameramen for making me feel comfortable!  It's difficult to re-do my nail art design in front of the camera but I survived!  (Thanking Mags and Shanna for the vote of confidence too).

Oh, I will share nail related "happiness" which I got to include in my nail addiction collection!  Paul & Joe Nail Enamel in Bright Red and 2 cute Nail Files.  I don't even know if I'll have the heart to use it!

 

Have a gorgeous Monday ahead!
I want to thank everyone who watched the short segment and congratulated me on it! THANK YOU!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!