Weekend Food Tripping at: Maki Haus

Happy Sunday AMW Friends!
Where are you off for lunch or dinner?  Are you dining out or cooking at home?  Whatever your plans are, make sure to eat right and eat whatever your body and heart desires! :)

Over the week, I have been craving for flavorful dishes and there's nothing Mr. AMW could do but go for what my tummy says! hehehe

Since I'm usually around Manila area, we make it a point to try as many restaurants as we can!  One restaurant that got a seal of approval from my parents-in-law is called Maki Haus ---> I did not invent the spelling, it was really spelled that way!  *lol*

Maki 

Php105.00 (approx $2.50) for small serving

Php130.00 (approx $3.00) for bigger serving

We ordered the bigger size of course as we always say: "There's always take outs!"  *laughs*

 In the metro, I find there are only a few restaurants who serve good Maki/Maki-Mi.  I'm glad to announce that Maki Haus did deliver!  But first of all, what's Maki or Maki-Mi?

Maki is a dish where you find sliced pork cut into small pieces, seasoned and tenderized with starch.  The extra starch, eggs and onions give a smooth yet thick texture.  You can opt for just the slices of pork or you can go for Maki-mi which are slices of pork with noodles.  Best ordered if you're really hungry.   

Beef Wanton Mami

Php135.00 (approx $3.21)

I wasn't impressed with this dish as the soup was bland and the noodles were too soft.  The beef lacks taste and I think the best part of this noodle soup is the wanton.  We ended up transferring the noodles to our Maki dish (above).  We're creative that way *winks*.

 Lumpia Shanghai

Php125.00 (approx $3.00)

This order came in super late!  The restaurant must've nearly forgotten about it or they were really busy as it was a full house that night!  So far, it's okay if you're craving for fried lumpia that night but my favorite will always be the one from Lam Tin!

Another must try, give their Hipon Rebusado (Shrimp Rebusado) a try!  One piece costs Php70.00 (approx $1.70) , we had 3 orders for to-go and so far, it's good!

The restaurant accepts cash payment only.  No service charge included in the bill.  Service was not that good as our Lumpia Shanghai came in too late!  We were done eating our Maki and Noodle Soup and had to follow up.

Maki Haus
Banawe Ave St. Peter, Quezon City  
tel. no.: (632) 411-8767 

Have you tried Maki?
Do you like it?

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AMW Reviews: Benefit BeneTint

Benefit's Benetint has always been the "star product" of the said brand.  I went in and out of the boutique so many times but I don't know why I haven't really put myself into purchasing one!  I guess, I always think it's always there and there will always be a good, inexpensive dupe to the said bestselling lip and cheek tint!

Yes, I've given different brands of lip and cheek tints a test but as a blogger who loves to pry and compare, I finally gave in and got myself THE Benetint! 

Benefit Benetint says ---

Our original rose-tinted stain is kiss-proof, see-through color for lips & cheeks that lasts for hours. Naturally sheer & sexy on all complexions...it’s innocent yet provocative.

Originally created for an exotic dancer in the 1970s, Benetint has soared to cult fave status. It's loved by celebs, makeup artists and gals around the world. It's the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle!

size: 12.5ml
Ingredients:

AMW says ---

Pros

• Comes with manufactured date printed on box.

• Has a nice hint of rose scent.  (not too overwhelming for me)
• If applied correctly, the effect is always natural.
• Stays the whole day no matter what type of skin you have!
• Waterproof, sweat-proof.
• Pricey but the bottle lasts me long! 

Cons

• A bit tricky to apply especially first time tint users.
• A bit challenging to remove especially if you love to apply this with the use of fingers like I do.
  

Overall
A long lasting natural flush and shade is build-able depending on user preference.

Tips

• If you plan to apply on cheeks and lips, try not to use the same brush for application.
• For cheeks, best to use your clean fingers and work fast!
• A little goes a long way so start with 3 dots then work your way adding more depending on your preference.
• If you plan to use this as a lip tint, apply 2 dots of the Benetint on your clean finger and gently dab the product on clean, dry lips.
• Lip balm comes after Benetint application to prevent lips from drying.
• Benetint is best used after BB Cream, liquid or cream foundation application.  
• For the color to appear more vibrant, set the Benetint with your choice of powder blush.

Will I repurchase?
Yes

To whom do I recommend this to?
Anyone who's into tints.

Where to purchase and how much?
At local Benefit Boutique (Greenbelt, Rustan's Makati and Shangri-la Mall) for Php1,800 (approx $41.80)

Photos

  The Benefit Benetint is housed in the same bottle

 as Moon Beam, Sun Beam, Posietint , etc...

For application:

I like to apply 3 dots of the Benetint on my cheeks 

as shown on photo below after my BB Cream application

I blend immediately by creating quick, 

dabbing motion using my clean fingers

Voila!
Benetint on cheeks and lips

As compared to other lip and cheek stains that I have tried, Benefit Benetint offers you longer lasting tint and the nice rosey scent not all lip and cheek tints have.  I find the product to be very liquid in texture thus making it easier to blend thus creating a more natural flush.

Have you tried Benefit's Benetint?
Do you like it or not?

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AMW Reviews: Yves Rocher Eclat Radiance Rinsing Vinegar

One way to take care of your hair is by using a clarifying shampoo at least once a week!  I've written about it in this post.  Who would've thought my clarifying hair routine could get so exciting?

After my Yves Rocher Store Visit at Trinoma, I saw this hair care product called Eclat Radiance Rinsing Vinegar and Yves Rocher Philippines' Brand Manager Vianca Tan, who's also a friend of mine, swore by this.

Are you sure?  Vinegar?  On my hair?

Well, I tweeted about it and seems there are a lot of my gorgeous haired friends do use regular vinegar once or twice a month to add shine to their hair and reduce residue from other hair care products. 

Yves Rocher says ---

A genuine traditional remedy revisited by Yves Rocher to enhance the natural shine of your hair and leave it radiant with beauty. Its delectable scent alone is a divine sensory experience.
The Plus: its delectable scent
To be used before the final rinse.
Care for all hair types.
Tested under dermatological supervision.
size: 5 fl. oz. Bottle / 150 ml

Readers' Corner: Makeup For Mature Skin

I have been asked multiple times by older readers or makeup artist readers regarding makeup for mature skin!  Before I talk any further, I am in no way implying I've perfected makeup for mature skin but I have a good number of experiences applying makeup on them so today, I'm sharing some of the tips and tricks I learned through the years.  (And I'm still learning by the way..)

makeup by: Nikki

hair by: Kim

Skin Prep

As a makeup artist, if your client is young, you can get away by skipping moisturizers or primer application.  For mature skin, this is the most crucial stage. Check the condition of your skin or your clients' skin, do they suffer from freckles, wrinkles or extreme dryness?   

From there, you can pinpoint the right product to use!  For extreme dryness, a thin layer of moisturizer can be used to apply all over the skin.  For wrinkles, I prefer to use wrinkle-filling cream and gently dab the wrinkled area for a plump look.  How about freckles and other skin discolorations?  Pull out your corrector palette, this is the time to practice the right way of correcting.

Foundation/Makeup Base

One of the most difficult parts in makeup application for mature skin is choosing the right foundation.  I have used different types of foundations --- liquids, creams, gels, powders.  They all ended up looking dry and cake-y.  Then it hit me, do mature skinned clients want the thick foundation base?  The answer was plain and simple and I hear them all the time: "Please, I prefer light makeup!"

A light bulb moment hit me, you can use any moisturizing foundation on a mature skin as long as you get to apply it only on areas that needed the coverage!

Undereye circles, discoloration around the cheeks, etc... I try to steer away from concealers and use foundation thickly if needed for coverage!  For the rest of the skin that's clear and young-looking?  Let it breathe, set the face with a nice age-defying powder foundation. 

Eye Makeup

Mature client can get away without eye makeup!  All you need to do is to groom their brows and make sure to draw them not too thin or too thick.  The brows must complement the shape of the eyes and face. 

If you must apply eyeshadow, try to limit eyeshadow application to maximum of 2 MATTE shades.  Earth tones are the bests and steer away from glittery shadows as they could enhance droopy looking eyes.

Dark brown pencil liners are my favorite to use, gel liners or liquid liners may come off too strong!  Load their lashes with loads of mascara for definition.

Keep in mind that we would like to make their eyes the center of attention by enhancing them.

Blush

For teenagers to young adult, we can get away by applying blush on the apples of the cheeks but for mature clients, the rule is a bit different.  The best way to apply blush is to use a large fluffy brush and sweep the color over the highest point of the cheekbones to create an illusion of "lifted face".

Rosy pink or peachy shades minus the glitters are best used!

Lipstick

Just like us, clients who are aged 50 and above have their own lipstick shade preference.  Some are comfortable with natural lip color while others are more comfortable wearing bright red!  (Yes, I have an 80 year old client who loves her MAC Russian Red!)  Choosing a lip color isn't a problem but applying lipstick can be crucial in making a mature client look "feeling hippy" or "oldie but goodie"!

Use a lip brush for more defined lips and create fuller lips if needed especially for clients with very thin-looking lips.

Some more tips

• Contouring is very important, master the right angles where shading is needed.  The right way of contouring will create an uplifted look without the surgery!
• Highlight the center of the face.  When I say highlight, I do not mean using glittery powders, I prefer highlighting using powder foundation 2-3 shades lighter than the skin color applied at the center of the face.  It gives a very natural yet awake look!
• After makeup is done, if skin feels dry or dehydrated, sprits the face with moisturizing water to hydrate the skin and blot off excess with a napkin.  This will also help set the makeup making it stay longer.

To my readers who asked about mature skinned makeup for their moms and grandmothers, I hope this simple article helps!
To the rest of my makeup artist readers, feel free to add more tips for our AMW readers!

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AMW Reviews: Penshoppe's Rouge Lip Shade in Sangria

Penshoppe has always been one of the many brands I look up to when I was young, I would go into their stores and purchase t-shirts or jeans as a gift for my brothers or sister.  I would save up all my Christmas and New Year "red envelopes" for a nice Penshoppe top.

And who would've thought Penshoppe went global with the epic ALL STARS campaign featuring Ed Westwick, Leighton Meester, Ian Somelhalder and Asian matinee idol Mario Maurer and the most recent, Zac Efron?  Penshoppe definitely expanded its product portfolio and I'm not surprised they are now widely available ONLINE!

And what made Penshoppe even more interesting?  The availability of personal care collection --- from lipsticks to eye pencils, brush sets and fragrances!  

Since I am into beauty products, I can't help but got intrigued with the newest makeup line from Penshoppe.  I tried their Rouge Lip Shade in Sangria at once and mind you, it's a red shade!  And I'm finally comfortable wearing red!

Penshoppe says ---

Penshoppe allows you to channel your inner vixen into a sexy pout with Rouge Lip Shade, a limited edition collection of red lipsticks.  With three rich hues to suit the different skin tones of women --- Satine, Scarlet and Sangria, Rouge Lip Shade is a woman's must-have for a voluptuous pout.

Rouge Lip Shade is fortified with Color Hydradiance factor, a healthy blend of antioxidant benefits from white tea extracts. 

Size: 4g

AMW says ---

Pros

• Well sealed upon purchase.

• Glides on lips smoothly.
• Doesn't flake.
• Non-drying formula.
• Sangria is a nice deep reddish maroon shade that looks good on most skin color.
• Inexpensive.
• No weird scent.

Cons

• Only 3 shades available plus the fact that these are Limited Edition.

Overall

Housed in a gorgeous clear tube making it look like high-end lipstick brand.  The color Sangria is smooth and creamy upon application and is flattering on most skin tones.

Tips

• Apply directly or use a lip brush to define your lips.
• If you have super dry lips, moisturize lips properly, blot with a clean napkin before you apply red lipstick.
• If you want your red lipstick to stay longer, use a red lip pencil underneath.
• Check your teeth every now and then for lipstick stain.

Will I repurchase?
Yes

To whom do I recommend this to?
Anyone into inexpensive red lipsticks.

Where to purchase and how much?

All the personal care set are available in all Penshoppe stores as well as online via www.shop.penshoppe.com for Php199.00 (approx $4.62).

Photos

Rouge Lip Shade in Sangria on my lips

No gloss nor lip balm

A before and after shot of my lips

I will be giving away a tube of the Penshoppe's Rouge Lip Shade in Sangria either on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!  It will be anytime, anyday so...

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Have you tried any of the Penshoppe's Personal Care Collection?

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Stay happy!

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