AMW Reviews: Kerastase Resistance Force Architecte

Last Saturday of the month of February!  I can't believe my 34th birthday is coming up soon!  Well, I've got nothing more to ask for my birthday but for the safety delivery of Baby AMW!  He's definitely God's greatest gift to us!

Remember the Launch of Kerastase Resistance Force Architecte?  (Refresh your mind by clicking HERE).  Gosh, I just realized it was exactly a year ago!  I have been a long time Kerastase user as I vouched myself I'll spend a little bit more for my hair as I've been treating my hair quite badly with all those heating tools!  I use blow dryer, flat irons and curling irons on a regular basis and if my hair can talk, they're probably saying: "#$*@&!@)" to me right now!  *laughs*

Since I like to rotate my shampoo, masque and serum usage, I've finally hit the pan with both the Bain Force Architecte Shampoo and the Masque Force Architecte (Masque).  I'm halfway done with the serum so I'm definitely ready to share my thoughts on my experience using this line which is meant for hair with erosion level 3 and 4.  If the numbering is foreign for you, let's just say, this line is made for hair that are SUPER damaged from chemical treatment and heating tools!

Let's start with...

Kerastase Resistance Bain Force Architecte 

(Shampoo)

 250ml for Php1,485 (approx $34.50)

 Ingredients:
 

Pros

• Smells great!
• Hair feels lighter and easier to manage.
• Doesn't leave oily or greasy residue.
• Hair strands feel stronger after a month usage.
• No dandruff no scalp irritations occur.
  

Cons 

• Price 
• Super dry/chemically-treated hair may still need the extra help of a conditioner after shampooing.

Tips

• Massage product only hair and leave it for a couple of minutes before you lather.
• Follow up with a conditioner of choice and apply from mid-shaft of hair down to the ends.
• Once signs of irritations occur, stop usage immediately.

Kerastase Resistance Masque Force Architecte

(Hair Masque)

200ml for Php2,227 (approx $51.80)

 Ingredients:


Pros

• Smells exactly the same as the shampoo.  Smells heavenly.
• Though it felt nothing after wash, hair feels soft, smooth and easy to comb while blow drying.
• Dryness and frizzy hair were dramatically lessened.

Cons 

• Doesn't feel as rich or thick as that of regular hair masque.  It is very difficult to "feel" that the right amount have been applied on hair!
• Price

Tips

• Apply a good amount of product on scalp and hair, gently massage and leave it for at least 10-15 minutes.  
• It is much better to do this treatment at least once a week for sensitized hair.
• Best applied on damp hair leaving it for a couple of minutes with a shower cap or towel.
  

Kerastase Resistance Fibre Architecte 

(Hair serum)

30ml for Php1,860 (approx $43.25)

 

 Ingredients:
 

 Unique packaging of Fibre Architect.  2 types of serum come out at the same time.

Pros

• Scent is stronger than that of the shampoo and masque.  Could be a pro to some or con to others.
• Doesn't weigh down hair.
• Never feels oily or greasy.
• Gets absorbed into the hair shaft easily leaving hair soft and easy to manage.
• Hair condition improves with constant usage.  
• Protects the hair from constant styling.
  

Cons 

• Price

Tips

• Best applied on damp hair prior to blow drying.
• Massage a dime size amount of product on your hand and spread product directly on damp hair.  Do not apply product on the roots as it may weigh down your hair.

Overall, I originally thought the Nutri Thermique line is my favorite but this jumps up to my number one spot for Kerastase products!  I haven't used a whole lot but his line is my favorite for now as all the products I used didn't give me the allergies or dandruff that I get on most shampoos.  Aside from that, after finishing up both products (Shampoo and Masque) I can definitely feel the improvement of my hair as I don't get to treat my hair at salon due to pregnancy!  I'm glad I have the right type of hair products to help me ease through ugly hair due to changing hormones!

Have you finally tried any Kerastase products? If yes, what particular line?  Do you think it's worth the price you paid?

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 (Product received for PR purpose.  Reviews 100% mine  Please purchase at your own discretion.)

AMW Reviews: Yves Rocher Pure System SOS Blemish Corrector 6H

Happy Friday AMW Friends!  I realized that I did a review on a whole lot of concealers but I haven't really blogged about concealers that are focused on blemish correcting!  Maybe, it's because I'm born perfect and I don't have zits?  *laughs*  Just joking!  I do have my fair share of zits and acne-related stories but that happened when I was still in high school and I wasn't allowed to wear makeup then!  And to be honest, I don't see much makeup brands back then!  Yes, I know, high school seems like CENTURIES ago!  :P

Today, I'm finally reviewing a concealer that's made for spot correcting! Don't get me wrong, I do have zits and spots every now and then but I am too lazy to use products that specifically target those problems!  I'm an all-in-one product type of girl!  *winks*

Yves Rocher says ---
Hide imperfections and dry in one step.
Targeted dual action:

• All day long concealed pimples.
• After 6 hours: dried pimples.

Formulated and tested under medical supervision.  Paraben-free.
Size: 10ml

AMW says ---
Pros

• Easy to carry tiny tube packaging.
• Easy to control amount of product needed to squeeze out.
• Paraben-free.
• Has a cooling effect and does dry out pimple and spots.
• Gives good amount of coverage if applied correctly.

Cons

• 1 shade only.
• Could be drying on skin.
• Product may not be effective on long time zits and spots.

Overall

A good spot corrector as the color can counteract redness and other acne marks.  Has a cooling effect and according to my sister, it does dry up "newly sprouted" pimples not in 6 hours, it takes longer but it has a drying effect.

Tips

• Apply a small quantity of the product directly on the blemish.
• Use patting motion.
• For zits, I strongly suggest to use a very fine concealer brush to apply the product directly on the area and blend out harsh edges.
• If the Yves Rocher SOS Blemish Corrector shade is different from your skin, it helps to apply this concealer prior to foundation application!
• Feel free to re-apply concealer after foundation application (if the shade matches your skin tone).

Will I repurchase?
Not for me but I wouldn't mind recommending!  My sister loves this!

To whom do I recommend this to?
Anyone who suffers from pimples, acne marks, spots and blemishes of all sorts.

Where to purchase and how much?
Php450.00 (approx $11.25) at Yves Rocher  TriNoma Mall, SM North Edsa The Block, SM South Mall, SM Fairview and Ayala Center Cebu.

Photos

Lipgloss-like packaging

Application

I prefer to apply a tiny amount of product at the back of my hand and warm it up with my fingers before applying directly on to the areas needed for concealing.  The reason for this is the warmth of my fingers can make the product apply smoothly as compared to direct application as I have dry skin!  

If you have oily skin, it is okay to apply product directly on zit using your fingers or brush. 

 Yves Rocher Pure System SOS Blemish Corrector 6H has a salmon shade.  If not for its pimple fighting properties, this shade works so well for my under eye circles.

 Warming up the product at the back of my hand makes it easier to create smoother application.  The product tends to sit in lines around the skin so be careful!

 

Note: Do not apply this product on the under eye area just like I did, this is only for demonstration purpose.  The product has cooling effect which is meant for spots and blemishes and contains ingredients that can dry up unwanted pimples. 

Do you agree with me how perfect the shade is to counteract the darkness around my eyes?  Unfortunately, this product isn't meant for the under eye area!  According to my sister, this covers her pimples and red marks pretty well and she's okay with the product even if the drying effect doesn't take quick effect.

Do you use separate concealer for under eye area and for spots?
I am quite lazy and straightforward with my makeup application, I may do all sorts of steps for clients but I prefer using one concealer for both under eye circles, redness around the face and some spots!  Call me lazy...yes I am! :)

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AMW Makeover: Trial Makeup for Asian Eyes

Happy Thursday AMW friends!

Today is Thursday and I'm looking forward for the weekend!  Why?  Well, there are so many things to look forward to!  For me to pack my "hospital bag" as I'm officially on my 32nd week of pregnancy and I've been very busy for the whole month of January and February I told myself I needed the rest before the sleepless nights c/o Baby AMW!  

And what's the other thing that I'm looking forward for this weekend?  My 3rd and final Benefit Fine One One Workshop!  The first and second was super fun and I met a lot of cool Benebabes so I can't wait for the third and final installment to be held at Benefit Boutique, Rustan's Makati.

Benefit Fine One One Workshop at Greenbelt 5

February 2, 2013

Benefit Fine One One Workshop at Shangri-La

February 9, 2013

I can't wait to share more tips to the workshop attendees and speaking of tips, have you read the article I've written for Sample Room?  If not, feel free to click photo below as I've written some simple Makeup Tips for Asian Eyes.

Speaking about Asian Eyes, I recently had a trial makeup client fresh from Singapore who requested for a very simple makeup for her wedding reception.  Let me share to you some of the makeup tricks that I've did for her particular feature.

Skin: Combination (Normal/Dry)

Request: The client doesn't have any particular request 

but I'm imaging her going for a very soft and natural look.

Trial makeup client exudes a very positive personality even for someone you just met for the first time.  She's jolly, friendly and very cheerful so I'm imagining a makeup for her that gives a bright and positive outlook just like her personality!  I was aiming for creating fresh, glowing skin!  

To start off, I prepared her skin by applying ample oil-free moisturizer from Paul & Joe on dry areas;  lessen the look of pores on her nose area by applying Benefit's Porefessional and a moisturizing face primer for Laura Mercier for the rest of her skin!  As I let all the products to sit and do their "action", I picked up a small scissors to trim her brows and filled sparse areas with brow pencil.

As for foundation, the client doesn't have much skin problems to cover so I've decided to use a light to medium coverage liquid foundation from RMK.  I also did a bit of concealing to even out the color around the eye area and the sides of her nose using my Bobbi Brown Concealer.

I want to create bigger-looking eyes;  I picked several matte shades for a simple day time smoky eye makeup adding a bit of light, shimmer eye shadow at the inner corner to create an illusion of big, bright eyes!  (Eye shadows used: Lancome, MAC, Bobbi Brown)

For a more natural finish, I picked Dark Brown  Gel Liner instead of regular black gel liner which I usually use for a more natural look.  Black gel liner could make small eyes look even smaller if not applied correctly.  I also added dark matte brown eye shadow on top of the gel liner for a more natural finish. 

Coats and coats of mascara were applied after curling her lashes with Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler;  I also applied falsies on her by cutting 1 into 2 as applying full lashes may make her eyes droopy.

Let's not forget to contour the face and nose area for that instant "painless" nose lift and face lift! 

As for the cheeks, I applied a tiny bit of cream based blush from Stila, and Shu Uemura Glow On Blush in Apricot.

As for the lips, I used a lip pencil from MAC closed to her lip color and gently apply it all over her lips and top it with Lancome Juicy Tubes.

Last but not the least;  I set the area that could "oil" with a Shu Uemura Colorless Face Powder.

Client's final look on natural lighting

Hair by: Kim Tan Rodriguez

Thanks to my dear client for the lovely time and for entrusting me to do a makeover!
Do you have any other tips for Asian Eyes out there?  I'd love to hear from you!

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Shiseido 1-2-3 Skincare Moisturizing Review

Good morning AMW Friends!  Today, I will be sharing another skincare regimen that I've been doing for my last trimester of pregnancy. 

I have been holding off using this set before I get a go signal from my Doctor and of course, after finishing up the products I've been using for the past months.

Shiseido is a brand I come to trust in terms of skincare as I've tried loads of sample sizes when I was still working in Shenzhen China years ago.  I would try out their different lines from brightening to moisturizing and most of the time, I get good results even with a tiny bottle of sample!  It is just one of those times I tend to "save up" on skincare as each bottle could cost an arm and leg!

Recently, I'm glad to have found a set that contains good enough size for me to finish this up at least 2-3 months without the need for me to break my cutesy piggy bank!

Shiseido 1-2-3 Skincare Moisturizing Hydratant 

1. Cleanse

2. Soften

3. Moisturize

Nail Art Tutorial: I Love My Red Plaid Shirt!

Happy Monday AMW Friends!  I had a lovely weekend with the family so I'm energized to get back to work today!  Oh yeah, I forgot to add that I had a wonderful 1 week break for the Chinese New Years so I was able to finish a Korean Series called "Rooftop Prince" (which I LOVE!) and I was able to feel like a grade school kid on vacation after spending most of my nights playing Bubble Mania and Jewel Mania!  (Seriously, can I get more childish than that? Ahem!  I meant, child-like!) :P

One thing I did over the past week is to play with my short nails!  A lot of you wonders if it's possible to create nail art designs with short nails!  Well, it's definitely possible as I recently cut my nails pretty short to prevent myself from getting scars from scratching my allergies!  Here's a simple "I Love My Plaid Shirt" design!  I will explain to you why the title goes like that!

Since February is my birthday month and I looked back at my old photos on how I celebrated my birthday!  Year 2011, I celebrated it with my high school friends (and their kids)!  Looking back, it was a super fun event!  (See how the kids were all excited blowing my candle?)  As I looked at my red plaid shirt which is a favorite of mine!  I bought it in Hong Kong a couple of years ago and I always get compliments every time I wore it!  So today, my nail art design is inspired by this lovely shirt of mine which I missed wearing!  I will definitely wear it again one of these days!  Good luck to me if it still fits though! *crosses fingers* LOL