Something New: Bvlgari Omnia Coral

My first Bvlgari scent was bought at the Duty Free Philippines, it was a travel set with several tiny version of the Bvlgari scents!  Honestly speaking, I didn't get to use them much because the tiny travel sized bottles were too difficult to open!  I need a bit of effort to pry them so can you imagine the fun of finally using a Bvlgari scent when I recently got a full sized Bvlgari Omnia Coral?  

Yes, this was my weekend scent and it's going straight to my fragrance collection!  The collection were I share willingly share to my mom-in-law. :)  

Bulgari's newest fragrance Omnia Coral embodies the essence of summer.  Light fragrance that would work for any lady.  

Perfumer of the new Omnia Coral for 2012 Alberto Morillas was said to be inspired by the noble and rare red coral gemstones and imagined a voluptuous, natural scent created around the hibiscus flower and the overflowing sensation of juicy fruits.

"Omnia Coral attracts attention with its romantic and optimistic color and composition with delicate and feminine notes combined with accentuated red berries (goji berries and pomegranate. The composition opens with bergamot and goji berries (wolfberry); a heart encompasses gentle water lily, hibiscus and pomegranate, while a base closes with a sophisticated mixture of musk and cedar."

Personally speaking, it is very difficult to say if a scent is good or not as it really depends on each individual's preference.  With my personal Omnia Coral experience , there is a nice hint of fruity scent that brings me back to a tropical island as I enjoy the lovely breeze. A scent that isn't generic and lasts me the whole day.

**Omnia Coral is available in 25 ml, 40 ml and 65 ml and is accompanied by body lotion (100 ml) and gentle body scrub (100 ml). Available at all major department stores.


What's your favorite summer scent?
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Weekend Food Tripping at: Eli's BBQ Tagaytay

Happy Sunday lovelies!  How was your weekend?  I was stuck in "Manila" traffic both Friday and Saturday, I know!  I should get used to it by now but let me tell you one thing, if you want to see me growl like a tiger, watch me drive!  You won't hear the end of it when I'm stuck in traffic!  *laughs*  I'm sure a lot of you can relate!  :P

Let's set the negativity aside, to those who follow me on Instagram (AskMeWhats), you've probably seen how much I enjoyed spending the weekend with my high school friends!  What's a Tagaytay trip without Food trip?  My dearest friend suggested we try Eli's Delicious Bar-B-Que as none of us have tried the restaurant!  

Salad

Sorry we were too hungry and we just ate the salad away and I didn't get the take note on the price.  The salad isn 't something unforgettable but it's a nice appetizer!

Krispy Fried Chicken 

8pcs for Php516.00 (approx  $12.00)

The famous "Tom Sawyer's Fried Chicken"!  I know a lot of you probably don't remember Tom Sawyer's but according to Mr. AMW, we do have Tom Sawyer's Restaurant back in the 80's located at Greenhills!!! (boy!  He's a real foodie!)  *laughs*  I wasn't born yet *super lying*  hahaha  Honestly speaking, I can't remember as we don't dine out much when we were younger, it was not until I was in high school that we started to eat out!  

Eli's Krispy Fried Chicken is amazing!  The parts were quite huge and it was fried perfectly!  The chicken comes with gravy on the side but it's tasty on its own.

Chicken Oriental BBQ

8pcs for Php566.00 (approx $13.15)

Hmmm, I don't know how to explain this but I would've loved this chicken if it wasn't THIS burnt!  The sauce is great but it didn't seep inside the chicken so yeah, I'll go back to my favorite Krispy Fried Chicken instead.

Fish and Chips

a Beer Battered Crispy Fried Fish Fillet and comes with Tartar Sauce and Potato Fries

How can you go wrong with crispy fried fish fillet with tartar sauce and fries.  This was the order for the kids and I saw how much the girls loved this! :)

Pork Baby Back Ribs Hawaiin BBQ Platter

served with steamed white rice and Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Php495.00 (approx $11.50)

 The meat was a bit dry to taste and the sauce did not get to seep in the meat. 

Java Rice

Nice!  Best eaten with their Oriental Chicken BBQ as the Java rice is very tasty.

Super Beef Bulalo

Large for Php695.00 (approx $16.50)

For a restaurant that has a huge "BBQ" sign, I am quite surprised how much we loved the Bulalo!  Huge serving of tender beef and the soup was very flavorful! 

Though the food was a bit mixed (good and not so good), we had a wonderful time as it's the best place to dine in and bond with friends and family!  Servers are very friendship and there is a good parking space right in front of the restaurant!  

Eli's BBQ 

Grandview Complex, Tagaytay Rotonda Junction

Tagaytay City, Philippines

Tel no:  (632)-726-9329 

 Have you tried Eli's BBQ in Tagaytay?  What's a must visit restaurant in Tagaytay?

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

Happy weekend food tripping!

Nail Art Tutorial: DC Superheroes

Hi! Happy Saturday!!!  I finally found the time to fix my Nail Art Tutorial Photos!  Since my last "The Avengers" Nails, Mr. AMW requested I continue the Superhero-inspired nail art!  As we looked at our tiny collection, I saw a very cute mug that I bought for Mr. AMW from a Bazaar at the World Trade Center. 

DC Superheros in Chibi form :)

As I applied a good base coat to protect my nails (from Zoya), I looked for a nice color for the faces of the characters, since I can't find one, I've decided to mix GirlStuff Nail Polish in Machiatto and Caronia Regular Polish in White Satin.

AMW Reviews: Benefit's Brows A-Go-Go

Brows, brows, brows!  One of the most talked about way to change your look!  As a makeup artist, I do take time to fix the brows of my clients as it can really make or break an eye makeup look!  For years, I have practiced on various brow shapes, I have tried brow pencils, liquid brow liners, brow gels and brow powders.  Which products mentioned is the most important? 

It is difficult to say!  It really depends on the types of brows you are working with, but as a makeup artist, a brow powder is a must in a kit!  I have carried with me the Ruby & Millie Brow Set as gifted to me by Gracie years ago and I need to chuck them out as it has been years!  Luckily, Benefit opens its store locally and I was able to get my hands on Brows A-Go-Go!  I love makeup sets, for me, it's worth the money you pay for and you get to try out a lot of products in one tiny box! :)

Benefit Brows A-Go-Go comes with:

Light and Dark Brow Powders

Brow Zings Wax

Cream Eye Brightener

Brow Highlighting Powder 

Smokin' Liner (Black Eyeliner Pencil)

Mini Tweezers

Hard Angle/ Talent Brush

Benefit says ---
(click photo to read description and ingredients)





AMW says ---
Pros

• Quite sturdy packaging with magnet, huge mirror.
• You get a lot of products in one square packaging, you get to try a lot of products at a good price.
• The wax helps in shaping brows and keeping it that way for longer period of time.
• The 2 shades of powders can be mixed together during application for a more natural outcome.
• 2 brow powders can double up as eye shadow.
• The Brow Highlighter is a nice addition to the palette as it does its job.
• The mini brow tweezers is a smart idea!  It helps remove those unwanted hairs that pops out a bit too early than the rest.
• Lasts all day!
• The free brush is quite useful!  
• Easy to remove.

Cons

• The Dark Brow Powder have a reddish tint which may look unnatural to others.
• The black eyeliner pencil is great but a bit too short so its difficult to control the application.
• Too much of the wax application may make your brows turn really dark.  

Overall
A complete brow product meant for everything that concerns your brows!

Tips

• If you find the brow products too much for you, you can choose to go for the simpler, smaller packaging called Brow Zings which costs Php1,600 (approx $37.00).  You get 1 wax and 1 choice of shade.
• If you have super light colored hair and you need to lighten up your brows, a brow gel may still be needed as the Brows A-Go-Go is best for people with medium to dark colored hair.
• Bring along with you an extra eyebrow brush with spoolie.  Perfect to try Charm Dream Brow Duo Brush, using a spoolie will make your brow powder application more natural.
• Use Eye Bright to apply on the inner corner of your eyes for a nice wide awake look.
• Warm the eyeliner pencil at the back of your hand as it can feel a bit too hard upon application.

Will I repurchase?
Yes!

To whom do I recommend this to?

Anyone who's addicted on brow products.  Best for people who likes to change the color of their hair often thus doesn't need to purchase different shades of brow pencils!  With Benefit Brows A-Go-Go you get to customize the brow shade, practice is all you need!

Where to purchase and how much?
At local Benefit Boutique (Greenbelt 5 and Shangri-La Rustans) for Php2,000 (approx $46.50).


How-tos

Start by using the free angled brush and apply Brow Wax to "fix" the brows and put it in place.  The Brow Wax is pigmented so try not to apply too much.

For Brow Zings Powders, I prefer to use a natural-haired angle brush to apply.  I mixed both the light and dark color to create the shade that would match my hair color!  Practice makes perfect!  My recipe would be 1 dip on the dark powder then 2 dips on the lighter powder!

Note: Light powder is a matte, taupe-y brown shade

Dark powder is a medium to dark brown shade with a hint of red

To make the brows look more natural and not too strong, I prefer to use a spoolie and gently brush the hairs outward.  Step back then fill in gaps if needed.

Before and after shot of my brows

Now on to the Brow Highlighting Powder, I used the fluffy eye brush and grab a bit of the product tapping before applying.  Apply on the brow bone blending until harsh lines are blurred out.

As for the Eye Bright, this is a cream based eye product, so it is advisable to pick up a bit of the product by using a synthetic brush or use your clean finger.  I chose to use my finger and dab a tiny amount on the inner corner of my eyes for a very natural glow.

Would you go all the way from Wax to Brow Powder application to Brow Highlighting and Brightening up the inner corner of the eyes on a daily basis?  I don't mind doing so on some days as practice does not only give you perfectly looking brows, it also speeds up your brow time!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: SanSan Matte Finish Liquid Foundation

Since my blog is called AskMeWhats, it isn't a surprise to get loads of queries over email!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I actually like sharing and learning at the same time!

One of the most asked question to date, aside from Makeup Schools, is a suggestion on a good yet inexpensive foundation.  I understand the query as I used to be a student myself who works part time on the side tutoring kids to earn extra money for my own "fashion and beauty" wants.

Today, I will be reviewing an inexpensive liquid foundation from San San.

San San says ---

San San Matte Finish Liquid Foundation is available in Four variants that match most Filipina skin tones.  The nude to natural shades offer medium coverage that provides an even finish to help conceal blemishes and dark under eye circles.  Its formulation is ideal for those with normal to dry skin.

Each bottle of San San Matte Finish Liquid foundation comes in a matte frosted glass container with a spatula for easier application plus Vitamins A, C and E that nourish skin and SPF15 for sun protection. 

Ingredients

AMW says ---
Pros

• Includes manufacture and expiration date.

• Comes with a spatula that's convenient stored inside the bottle.
• Build-able coverage.
• Gives a matte finish.
• Non-drying.
• Did not irritate my skin.
• Since the product is inexpensive, it is still okay to purchase at least 2 shades for mixing.
• Has a tiny hint of "coconut" scent that smells nice.
• Gives a nice, even coverage.

Cons

• As stated on the product packaging, this is made in P.R.O.C. (People's Republic of China), I'm not sure how comfortable some of you are in using China made products.  
• Limited shades.  (Please read tips on how to deal with this)
• Scent: those who dislikes scent on foundation may find it annoying.

Overall

For its price, this is an impressive matte foundation that doesn't dry the skin.  Long-lasting and comes with a scent that lasts a bit.

Tips

• Use the spatula to get sufficient amount of product and transfer on your clean hands or a "plate" before application.  Never apply from spatula directly onto your skin.
• Experiment with the best tool to apply your SanSan Matte Finish Liquid Foundation --- clean fingers, foundation brush, stippling brush, sponge, etc...  
• Since the price is inexpensive, feel free to purchase a light and dark one to mix and match.  A bit of a hassle but so far it's working on me.
• Best used for girls who are studying makeup!  This is an inexpensive foundation great for practice yet it gives the coverage needed.
• If you have super oily skin, prime your skin with an oil-control primer prior to foundation application.
• If you managed to purchase a light and dark foundation for mixing, feel free to use the light foundation as a highlighter!  01 is a favorite of mine to highlight the bridge of my nose and other areas.

Will I repurchase?
I wouldn't mind recommending this to girls who are on a budget and are starting on makeup.

To whom do I recommend this to?
Girls who wants to try matte finish liquid foundation without breaking the bank.  This product works well for normal, combination and dry skin.

Where to purchase and how much?

Visit www.hbc.com.ph or add them up on Facebook.  Available in all HBC stores nationwide for Php132.00 (approx $3.00).  

Product photos

01 03 and 04 on packaging

Comes with a spatula for hygienic purpose

Swatch on arm

01 Is a matte ivory shade with hint of yellow

03 Would match most Filipina skin, has yellow undertone.  Equivalent to MAC Studio Fix Liquid Foundation in NC35.

04  Has pink undertone.  

With a mix of 01 and 03, I came up with this to match my skin color

Build-able coverage

From light to medium heavy

Once blended on skin

It disappears and gives a good coverage without showing up lines 

Does not flake my dry skin.

Applied on face

Please do not mind the weird grayish color of the after shot (R), the photo was taken under same lighting.  SanSan Matte Finish Liquid Foundation gives a nice, even coverage minus the flaking.

Have you tried or seen SanSan Matte Finish Liquid Foundation?
Have you tried it?  Would you give it a try even if its made in China?

Personally speaking, I am not a brand snob, I am willing to try on products that I think would work for my skin but I make sure to do a patch test or check out the ingredients before doing so!  It is very important to let your skin breathe once in awhile and this tip is applicable for ALL Brands.  Make ups are make ups, they are chemically-laden products which may trigger breakouts to some and not to others!  

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

(Product sent for review.  Opinions 100% mine.  Please purchase at your own discretion.)