Eureka Moment: Some Recent Discoveries

Happy Tuesday AMW friends!  How was your morning?  Are you energized?  Tired?  Sleepy? 

If you're not in a good mood today, well I hope my post will lift your mood at least a notch!  I will share to you some of my recent and not-so-recent discoveries that made a huge difference in my boring life! :P  These are some of the "AMW Secrets To Success"  *laughs*  Wow, that sounds like a book!  But on a serious note, I'll be sharing some of the products that probably meant nothing to you or to me (at first) but meant the world to me today!

1. Boob Bib

Last year, I have a makeup client who came all the way from Cebu to attend a wedding, she booked my services and we emailed each other a couple of times prior to that "gig" day.  On that day, I was surprised when she handed me a gift (such a sweetheart)!  She told me I "may" need this!

Well, "may need" is an understatement! 

Showing your cleavage maybe sexy but there are moments when boobs or cleavage aren't even required!  (Sorry guys!  It's true!) :P  Let's say, if you work as a school teacher, going for a job interview, attending a very important meeting etc...Smart dressing gives a good impression!  

I own gazillion of tubes but at times, these could get uncomfortable especially during summer! 

 The Boob Bib comes in 3 basic colors --- 

black, white and cream/beige

A super simple product!  With just a tiny piece of cloth, garter and buttons, you get yourself a Boob Bib!

All you need to do is to attach the adjustable garter to your bra straps!  

Voila!  You got "your world" under control!  *laughs*

Okay, I tried researching on the brand but can't seem to find the site!  I was told by the person who gave these to me that a set of 3 costs around Php140.00-150.00.  You can get them cheaper at Divisoria but the quality isn't as good (I was told).

2. Kerastase Specifique Bain Exfoliant Hydratant
Let's talk about my hair!  My hair seems to be getting some compliments lately! But, before you think how it gets to my head, well, I spend time and money on it!  *laughs*  I'm not born with it for sure!

Bad hair days AMW style means dandruff!!!  Don't be grossed out, but AMW readers would know by now how much I complain about my dry skin, dry lips and as expected --- dry scalp too!

I have always been a fan of Kerastase products but as seen on my reviews, using Kerastase on a daily basis will give me the itchy scalp!  So today, I'm happy to share that I've finally found a Kerastase product that doesn't give me the "flakes" even with continuous usage!  

Kerastase Specifique Bain Exfoliant Hydratant

A shampoo with triple action for dandruff-free hair in 42 days

Php1, 483.00 (approx $34.50)

 3. Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

I can instantly say "no" to a whitening product but I can't seem to resist brightening products!  I am addicted to faking soft, dewy skin that I even created a special post for it! (smile and click HERE)

One of my favorite face primer that gives the "oomph" is from Benefit called "That Gal" Face Primer.  I was able to try on a tiny sample of it first before purchasing a full sized version (review HERE) and I have to agree with my friend Xin, I am addicted to the "click click" sound!

 

As I was fixing my makeup stash a month ago, I saw the "I'm Glam...Therefore I am" palette which I picked during the opening of Benefit Boutique at Greenbelt 5.  I've tried and used this palette on random days and haven't written a full review on this as I find the set to be okay but NOT "you will lose your sanity if you didn't get this!" type of product!  

The product that I tested last was --- the Girl Meets Pearl.  It's not because I was saving the best for last, but I thought it was a product I'm okay to live without!

I was wrong!!!  One fateful "going to an event" day, I applied a good amount of Girl Meets Pearl after moisturizer and went on with my usual foundation routine!  I originally thought the product did NOTHING on my skin but when Angela texted me the night after Nuffnang's The Amazing Spiderman Premiere just  to ask about the foundation I used.  I immediately told her the foundation brand not thinking it was the huge help of Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl that made my skin "glowing" and "healthy"!  

On separate occasion, I used Girl Meets Pearl again prior to an application of another brand of foundation, Jheng (during Belofied App event) told me I look more healthy and blooming!  (Why, thank you Jheng! :P)  Another friend also asked if I had "airbrush foundation" on that night! 

These compliments shocked and intrigued me!  So when I got home, I took a closer look at my skin and immediately saw the radiance, the magic of Girl Meets Pearl tricking the mind of people to think I had 8 hours of sleep and spent most of my time inside a salon or spa!  Benefit Girl Meets Pearl is my "I feel like crap but doesn't look like one!" product! 

I guess, I have to go back to Benefit Boutique to purchase a full-sized version of this!  Jheng, Angela...it's not the foundation nor my skin, now both of you and the rest of the world know my secret!  :P

4. Nivea Baby Lovingly Caring Oil

My top body oil  as of the moment are both expensive and inexpensive!  The Neutrogena and Pevonia Botanica!  If I'm on a budget, I'll go for Neutrogena but on days that I have saved enough for "me" time, I'd go for the latter as it definitely feels lighter and absorbs into the skin faster!  

To the rest who have super sensitive skin and probably doesn't have the budget for Pevonia for now, well, guess what?  I've got another new discovery for you!  Nivea Baby Lovingly Caring Oil!  It's made for babies so definitely better for sensitive skin!  Of course, no one could surpass the "dry oil" feel of Pevonia but this is a good alternative for those on a budget!

 

5. 3M Filtrete Microparticle Aircon Filter

Technically, this doesn't sound or look like a beauty-related product but trust me when I tell you that this product saves me from looking like a witch due to skin allergies!  When I tweeted about my skin allergies, Jill's husband Gary messaged me telling me about our similar skin situation and strongly recommended a product  that helped lessen his allergies big time!  

Fast forward to more than a year, box after box, this made a huge difference and my skin is thanking Gary for the recommendation!

3M Filtrete

Php379.75 (approx $8.80)

Ace Hardware

 What's your most recent finds?
Any products you used that made people compliment your looks?
Click comment and share your secrets!

Sharing is beautiful!
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Pevonia Botanica Dry Oil Body Moisturizer

Good morning Monday!  I am sending all the good vibes to AMW readers so as not to suffer from the Monday Blues!  Did you have a good rest over the weekend?  

Since it's the start of the week, let's slow down a bit, I'm writing about something relaxing!  What's more relaxing than a good spa treatment?  Over the years, I've shy-ed myself on facial treatments but I wouldn't mind spending a bit for body massage!  My body longs for it especially after a week's hard work!  As my friend Bea would say: "Let's release those tension knots!"  It's an invitation I can't seem to resist!

I've tried a couple of SPAs in the Metro and most of the time, I do check what products they use on my body and most of the luxurious spas I've tried have one thing in common, the availability of Pevonia Botanica products!  Mind you, my first Pevonia experience was in Shenzhen, China! 

Pevonia says ---

Absolutely luscious, Pevonia Dry Oil Body Moisturizer indulges your skin in aromatic glory without an oily or greasy feeling. Immediately absorbed, it revitalizes and nourishes every inch of skin. Squalane, Lavender, and Chamomile synergize to deliver a replenishing veil rendering your body silky-soft with a radiant, healthy glow.

Size: 200ml/6.8 fl.oz.
Ingredients:

AMW says ---

Pros

• Spray type bottle making it easy to control the amount of product needed.

• Definitely a body oil but never feels oily/greasy.
• Smells WONDERFUL!
• Gets absorbed into the skin easily.
• Locks in moisture, my skin feels soft for the whole day!
• Gives my skin a nice radiance.
• This product contains Squalane Oil, Safflower Oil, Aloe Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Lavender Oil --- all natural ingredients.

Cons

• Price.
• Availability.

Overall

The most luxurious body oil I've tried!  For the first time, I'm actually looking forward to application as it's an overall "at-home spa" experience.  The scent, the feel relaxes me after shower.

Tips

• Best used after bath or shower.
• If you have SUPER dry skin, it's best to lock in moisture by applying a body lotion after Pevonia Botanica Dry Oil Body moisturizer application! 
• For normal to oily skinned individuals: Towel off some "excess" moisture after application.
• For someone who suffers extreme dry skin like yours truly, I transferred this product into a small spray-type bottle so I can re-apply this product on dry spots mid-day!

Will I repurchase?
Yes.

To whom do I recommend this to?
Anyone who likes the advantages of body oil minus the greasy feel!

Where to purchase and how much?
Pevonia Botanica Dry Oil Body Moisturizer costs around Php 3,120.00 (approx $72.55).  To check availability, LIKE them on Facebook or contact them at http://www.pevonia.com.ph/

Check out my past Pevonia Products experiences by smiling and clicking ---
The Spa Purifying Moroccan Mud Therapy Experience
Toccare Spa

Have you tried any Pevonia products?
Do you check which products were used on you during spa treatments?
I definitely do! :)

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

(Product received for PR purposes.  Opinions/reviews 100% mine.  Please purchase at your own discretion.)

AMW Reports: Get Belofied --- Now!

Have you "Belofied" yourself?

My answer?  "No"!  I'm definitely a sissy in terms of cosmetic surgery or even facial treatments!  Don't get me wrong, I don't judge people who go through invasive or non-invasive treatments, for me, if you have the willpower, the means and the want, why not?  But of course, for someone who's scared to go under the knife, there will always be that single moment in your life where you would wonder how you would look like if you have sharper nose, more distinct cheekbones, fuller lips, etc...  I believe a lot of you are nodding right now, wouldn't it be fun to see how you would look like with better features?

Last Friday, I learned about the Belofied App for iPhone and iPad, it's a fun and free way to enhance your features without shelling out money and best of all, it's Painless!   

The event was held at Kasbah, The Fort.  It was a first for me to dine in this restaurant and so far, I'm very happy with the food I've tasted!  After dinner, we were greeted by the gorgeous Cristalle Henares, daughter of Vicki Belo.

On a side note, most of us on the table were just staring at her!  She's definitely very pretty and have a gorgeous body!  Oh, I also asked her what foundation she uses that night, it was Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow!  I love how the foundation looked on her, flawless, very natural and clean!

Weekend Food Tripping at: Passion Restaurant, Resorts World Manila

Happy weekend everyone!  I had a very tiring Saturday!  I guess I got super tired because of the traffic!  Were you stuck in traffic just like we did?  

I had late morning makeup gig to 2 of my gorgeous clients and afterwards, we went straight to Gilmore (a super tiny version of Akihabara, Japan)  *laughs*  We needed to upgrade our 5-year old PC as it's starting to crash on me in between work!  About an hour plus later, we were able to get our newly-built PC (Mr. AMW style) and we drove straight to my mom's place as we're all meeting up for dinner at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel.  Okay, here's the ordeal, the drive from my parent's place to Eastwood took us more than an hour and we were late with our reservations!  I think we arrived Eastwood Richmonde Hotel around 8:00pm and buffet ends at 9:00pm!  Imagine, just an hour of eating, I didn't get to take pictures anymore as I was very hungry!  *laughs*

The point of my story (finally!) *hihihi* is that, I can't report much about our buffet experience last night so I'm picking up old food files and I remembered Passion Restaurant at Resorts World Manila!  I can't believe I nearly forgot about this!

It was a treat from our family friend and we dined in here last month for Father's Day!  The restaurant is known for its expensive, yet authentic Chinese dish and it will be my first to try the restaurant that night!  

**Note from me: Prices are for Small, Medium and Large orders.

Crispy Fried Chicken 

with Red Bean Sauce

half: Php558.00

whole: Php1,005.00

Okay, fried chicken is fried chicken!  I find this order to be a bit too pricey!  It tastes like regular chicken and so far, the red bean sauce was nice but not something I would crave for in the future!

Hot Prawns Salad

Php715.00/1,080.00/1,380.00

Though pricey, this dish actually warms our taste buds, we enjoyed their hot prawn salad as the prawn were really huge and fresh!  Worth every single penny paid for this dish!  A definitely must-order!

 Wok Fried Beef 

in Black Pepper Sauce with Broccoli

Php668.00/847.00/1,295.00

The beef is very tender, tasty and super juicy!  It was sliced in cubes and it was a favorite of the night! 

  

 Deep Fried Spareribs 

with Salt and Pepper

Php480.00/668.00/928.00

Since most of the people around the table ate in this restaurant multiple times, they told us that the first few times they've tried this dish was fabulous!  The most recent order was a tiny bit of a let down as there wasn't much meat on it.  The flavor on the other hand is a "thumbs up"!

 Fukien Fried Rice

Php448.00/608.00/888.00

If you dine in Chinese restaurants, most of the time, you'll give Yang Chow Fried Rice a try!  For the more adventurous diners, I would strongly suggest to give "Fukien Fried Rice" a try as the rice itself can be eaten alone as it's topped with flavorful sauce with chopped goodies (mushrooms, shrimps, etc...).   I find Fukien Fried Rice at Passion restaurant to be really flavorful and the sauce is just right to make me eat the rice on its own! 

 "Ma Po To Fu"

Stewed Bean Curd with minced beef and hot chili sauce

Php368.00/488.00/668.00

 Okay, I'm an expert tofu-eater right?  I can't really  pinpoint on how I would explain this dish!  It's not as spicy as most "ma po to fu" I've tried, the dish doesn't taste anything like the usual stewed, spicy bean curd!  I was told by my mom-in-law who tried the same dish in the restaurant several months before and she told me it wasn't as good as the first one she tried! 

 Braised E-Fu Noodles 

with Assorted Seafood

Php488.00/638.00/968.00

Flavorful noodle dish that's loaded with various seafood!  I'm impressed, it's definitely "birthday style noodles" cooked the best way!

 Minced Pork in Muy Choi Sauce

with Steam Eggplant

Php408.00/544.00/828.00

Okay, this is one favorite dish of mine but at this stage, I was stuffed!  I wasn't able to really eat a lot of this as this dish came in last!  I wish it came in earlier as this is another one of my favorite! 

Overall, dining at Passion Restaurant is a bit pricey for a typical Chinese dish-craving day!  But who can complain?  It's located at Resorts World Manila and the place was always packed with people!  The servers were pretty helpful and knowledgeable with the dishes.

The total price of everything you see in this blog post ranges around Php10,000-11,000 (approx $232.00-255.00).  Okay, before you get jaw-locked *laughs*, 12 people were fed that night and everyone went home pretty full and satisfied! 

Passion Chinese Restaurant

2/F Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila

Pasay City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(632) 908-8875

Have you tried this restaurant?
What's a must try restaurant at Resorts World Manila?
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!
Stay full!

Royal Effem Eye Pencil Review

Happy Saturday!  It's another busy day for me but I'm looking forward to it!  After a full day of hard work and duties, we'll be celebrating my mom's (advance) birthday tonight!  I booked a buffet dinner for the family and I'm quite excited not for the food but with the "bonding time"!  Okay, the food excites me a bit too!  *laughs*

I am very grateful each day when I wake up because God gave my mom a second chance, a second life!  We're seizing each day and I never forget to tell my mom and dad how much I love them ---  EVERYDAY!  Do you do the same too?  If not, well it's not too late! *smiles*

Let's talk about events, most of the time, events were held either in Makati, The Fort or Ortigas and those areas are at least an hour drive (without traffic) from my place, so getting ready will always be a rush as I don't want to be stuck in traffic!  Do I even have time to blend my eye shadows?  Unfortunately, NO so how do I make my boring eyes look at least a tiny bit interesting?  Colored eyeliners!

Royal Effem says ---

• soft texture
• long lasting even with temperature variations
• excellent glide
• perfect definition
• even, clean lines
• lines free of smearing and cracking
• intense, precise outline
• lanolin, paraffin and fragrance free formula