A Red Lipstick for ALL Occasion!

I almost do not wear Red lipsticks nowadays.

Not because I am not a fan of the shade but because I spend most of the time waiting for my son in school and wearing bright red lipstick would look a bit too much, I tend to shy away to more nudes and browns.  There were so many days I find myself looking pale because I always forget to apply lipstick on due to rushing.

Now, if there's one red lip color that I can ACTUALLY wear without looking like I'm attending a party, there's one red lipstick that I'm reaching out because I can control application to a light bright red, medium bright red or deep dark red.  All you have to do is to layer the lip color and Voila!  You've got a red lipstick for all occasion!

Benefit They're Real Red On Sexy Matte Lip Color

Php1,300.00

RED, HOT and MATTE! This sexy, longwearing* lip color glides on creamy thensets to a soft matte finish. This universal red takes any gals’ look from so-so to oh-sosexy. Comes complete with custom tapered brush for precision application.

Benefit Brow Contour Pro Review

Can you see the huge difference of my left and right brows?
I am so happy with my brows I have been using this every single day since its' launch.  Because, this is the style of brows I've been wanting ever since thick brows are in!

Benefit Brow Contour Pro

Php2,100.00

Total shades: 5

Benefit Says ---

Define & highlight your brows with this 4-in-1 contour pencil. Our multi-tasking brow pencil features a lighter brow shade, deeper brow shade, edge definer and arch highlighter to create clean, shaped brows with depth & dimension. Turn shapeless, flat brows into defined, contoured brows in an instant. Available in 5 shades for a wide range of hair colors and skin tones!

• Easy brow contouring4-in-1 brow pencilBlendable formula24-hour longwear* waterproof**

Hello To My Happy-Looking Skin with Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation!

Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation is one of my favorite "Daily Base Makeup" if I like to use liquid foundation on a daily basis.  It gives the right amount of coverage minus the heavy feel.  

Don't we all wish for that?

But several years after, I wondered why Benefit decided to come up with another base makeup called Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation.  Isn't the combination of Benefit POREfessional + Oxygen Wow Foundation enough to achieve perfect-looking skin?

The launch happened at Vanilla Cupcake Bakery a couple of weeks ago, I walked all the way from parking lot to the event location and was huffing and puffing when I saw one of my favorite Brow Wax Benegal!  She motioned me to sit on the makeup area to know the right shade for me.

I was super hesitant, I mean, I was perspiring and my skin's natural oil was suddenly appearing out of nowhere!

Then she whipped out this combination and applied Shade 3 on TOP OF EVERYTHING!  I'll tell you what happened after....for now, (bitin muna and read my review!)

Benefit Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation

Php1,800.00

Available in 12 shades (4 deep shades, 5 medium shades and 3 Light shades)

Hello YOU! This lightweight foundation evens out skintone and blurs imperfections with soft-focus optical blurring spheres. With a natural-matte finish and light-to-medium coverage, it looks like skin and feels like nothing at all. Happy looks good on you!

Wedding Guest Makeup Look and Outfit

So it has been a while since I attended a wedding!  Several wedding invitations passed by my hands but I wasn't able to attend any of them for so many reasons and I told myself I had to break the "bad luck".

My Best Man got married but Kyle was extremely sick.  

My college barkada got married this year and I was looking forward to attend her wedding but my dad had a stroke.

My highschool classmate invited us for his Wedding last week and I told myself I had to go, praying so hard nothing bad will happen again.

THANKFULLY, I was fully made up and was able to dress up...so you know I was able to attend - FINALLY!

This is my hair and makeup by YOURS TRULY.

Makeup products used:

Base makeup: Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation,

 Hello Flawless Powder and Lancome as contour.

Eyes: Etude House Play 101 Blending Pencil Shade 6 as base and L'oreal Nude Palette, K-Palette Liquid Liner and L'Oreal Super Liner in dark brown.

Brows: Benefit Goof Proof Brow pencil shade 3 and Karadium x Pucca Brow Cara

Cheeks: Clinique Sculptionary Cheek Contouring Palette in Defining Nectars

Lips: Silky Girl Matte Junkie Lip Crayon in shade 04

Be Bold and Beautiful, Yes You Can!

I always get asked about my brows, I get compliments about my brows more than anything else!  I don't mind, I love them, because I take care of them by having them waxed at Benefit's Brow Bar at least once every 2 months or so.

How much is it?  Php700.00, yes pricey to some but if you know that brands such as Benefit is giving back, you wouldn't mind spending that Php700.00 because, the Benefit Bold is Beautiful Project is Back!

This May, 100% of the proceeds of their brow waxing services will go to their local charity partner Mano Amiga, a private, non-profit organization that provides affordable, innovative quality international education to children from low income families.  

This year is their 2nd year and last year, Benefit was able to wax over 2,000 apirs of brows and they were able to donate close to 1.5 Million Pesos!  Imagine that?  We get beautiful yet we get to support other people....

And I love Benefit's Mantra....

Fake Glowing Skin Without Looking Fake!

 When Benefit announced a new Box O' Powder is arriving, I was holding onto my seat trying hard not to squirm because I have always been a Box O' Powder collector!  Since the arrival of Benefit in the Philippines more than 5 years ago, I swore to myself I'll grab every single Box O' Powder available because I just love their blushes that way!

I've said it so many times on my Blog and #AMWIgStories , my first love is Hervana, then was moved to Galifornia because of the gorgeous glow it gives!  Don't let me start talking about each blush because they hold a very special place on my cheeks especially Dallas - learned how much I love this just last year!

So where is the blush you say?  I'm pointing it for you!

A lot of the Blush Maven may not like Gold Rush.  I was glad Gold Rush came in just this year because if this came out several years ago, I'll dislike it so much this may probably go straight to the deepest part of my blush drawer!   But because fake, glowing skin is IN right now, even beauty enthusiasts are starting to apply highlighters on the apples of the cheeks, well, no need for that BOOM CHEEKS look!  You can create highlighted, gorgeous-looking skin effect with Gold Rush.

Benefit Gold Rush

Php1,600.00

Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara Launch + Review

I'm ready to take off!

This even reminded me so much of my bonding time with my son!  We always talk about space, planets and anything related to the Solar System, Milky Way, you name it, we've discussed it!

I had a time off to attend the Big Bang Launch of The Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara!  Are you ready to join me into this lash-lafying adventure (seriously, I can have my own dictionary!) :P

"BADgal BANG! 36 HOUR* FULL-BLAST volumizing mascara creates MASSIVE volume without weighing down lashes. The gravity-defying formula builds volume the more you layer, and contains aero-particles, one of the lightest known materials, derived from space technology. This innovative intense pitch black mascara layers easily for bigger & BIGGER impact. Its custom big Slimpact! brush is streamlined to reach root-to-tip, corner-to-corner, upper & lower lashes for BIG VOLUME WITH 360° REACH!"

Benefit Turns 6 with NEW POREfessional Pearl Primer

Benefit Turned 6 and I was thankful enough to always get the chance to celebrate with them!  I remembered celebrating their first birthday at the same branch - Greenbelt with baby Kyle inside my tummy!  So fast forward to today, Kyle is almost 5 years old and Benefit is 6 in the Philippines!  I don't know about you but I felt the connection because I was actively going around different branches to do workshops while pregnant!  So Benefit is like my Big Daughter while Kyle is the little brother!

Talk about the Big Daughter, there's more reason to celebrate than just being 6!  The Greenbelt branch went through an overhaul and the store is bigger and better than ever!  You have to visit them to see and believe!

During the re-opening of the newly renovated store, I also spotted a new baby --- Benefit POREfessional Pearl Primer!

Benefit's Double the Lip on my Lips!

I remember the 90s where Lipliner + Lipstick combination is the key to COOLNESS!  Some of you were probably babies or toddlers by then, as for me, I was in highschool clueless and staying away from this trend because my mom may strangle me!

Fast forward to today, who would've thought this trend would return and best of all?  Application is as easy as ONE swipe and you do not need 2 products to achieve such trend!

According to Benefit, this new lip product will give you Full Lips that Keep It Real - meaning, you still look like yourself, not like a lip-injected individual!

It was launched months ago but I finally got my hands on 6 shades (I believe there were a total of 8) and I'm BEYOND happy!

Get fuller-looking lips in one easy stroke with they’re real! double the lip. This lip liner & lipstick in one features a Custom Teardrop Tip that grabs and defines your lip line and fills in lips with complementing colour for the appearance of volume and dimension. This semi-matte lipstick comes in neutral to bright shades for visibly fuller, sexier lips.

Want Fuller-Looking, yet Natural Brows?

I have full bows to start with --- that's one thing I am very proud of!  I wish it'll look that way until I turn 60!

To my friends and clients who have very few strands of brows or who has brows but each brow strands tend to be fine and almost invisible, you may want to look into this newest Benefit brow product that I got to try and use for the past weeks.

The Benefit Foolproof Brow Powder

Php1,500.00

I got mine in shade 3 because I always like the lighter shades!  

Description 

Benefit's New Product Offers That I Can't Resist!

So how does it feel to be #FriendsWithBenefit ?  Well, we get to hang out with Blogger friends, at the same time, we get to know what's up and coming with one of our favorite brands Benefit Cosmetics Philippines!

Thanks Benefit PH for inviting us over lunch and introducing us to the newest products for the last quarter of 2017.  Okay fine, I'm not sure if this is good but I ended up shopping and ordering for almost all the products mentioned below...and there's a lot!

Photo from Jackie Go with Alyssa and Angela

If you still remember the launch of Benefit's biggest brow collection May of 2016 (Wow, has it been that long?)  I know most of you were wondering which particular brow product would work for you or which ones to try first.  Well, Benefit made it easier for all of us!  Introducing..The Great BrowNanza!

All the brow products launched is in this cute box and here's the best news!  Everything priced around Php7,000+++ and you'll get this set for only Php3,000+++  That's a WHOLE lot of savings!  And this set is limited edition and let me tell you, I already reserved 2 boxes because I can NEVER get enough brow products --- especially from Benefit!

Benefit Hoola Quickie Contour Stick Review

 

Hoola is Benefit's iconic product to contour and warm your face.  I remembered using it a lot during workshops explaining attendees how to rightfully use it and how amazing it it.

 

Then came the Hoola Quickie Contour Stick, which is the cream stick version of the famous Hoola Box O' Powder.  I am so excited to use this especially since this is cream to powder finish which I think would work for my skin type.

Housed in a super cute Benefit-type of packaging.  Gold retractable stick that screams --- "I'm special!  Use me!"

 

I have been using this on and off since I've been trying out so many contour products, but after MONTHS, I'm finally ready to share my thoughts on this.

Benefit Hoola Quickie Contour Stick says ---

Chisel those cheekbones, slim that nose and get an overall sculpted look with this soft bronze, cream-to-powder contour stick. Hoola quickie contour stick’s dome shape tip ensures a smooth, targeted application every time! 

• Natural, soft matte finish 
• Longwearing formula
• Blends seamlessly

DETAILS 8.5 Net wt. 0.3 oz.

In2It Triangular Eyebrow Liner Review

"Kilay Is Life" --- (Brows are life) and it's true!

Given that I wake up very early in the morning to iron my son's uniform, to prepare his things and to fix myself up, the latter is the least important of all so I always end up having barefaced look whenever I drive him to school.

BUT, one thing that I'm proud of is how I manage to fix my "kilay" even Kyle's teacher complimented how nice my brows are (I have to thank Benefit Brow Bar for keeping the shape intact!) and the rest is easy to manage with easy-to-use brow products.

Recent Brow Discovery --- In2It Triangular Eyebrow Liner (Php430.00)



Housed in a retractable plastic pencil packaging, I got the shade 01 Dark Brown for daily use.

A Concealer For the Dry Undereye Area

There are days when you wake up and look into the mirror and wished you have an "eraser" to erase all your skin troubles away?

I felt that the most for the past 2 weeks especially since I got really sick.  I've been taking medications and my skin is acting up.  Face literally peeling from dryness and as much as I hav my favorite concealers on-hand, some of them just enhance the dryness even more!

Good thing I remembered I own Benefit's Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer and I immediately used it for the full 2 weeks and it has been wonderful to me.

 Box is so cute, look literally like an eraser!

Inside, you have a cute twist-up packaging housed in a Benefit Pink Case.

Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer reminds me so much of Fake Up but I love the packaging of this one better.  It comes in 3 shades --- 01 Light, 02 Light Medium and 03 Medium.

 

I picked the middle shade, Light Medium which is 02.

Benefit Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer Says ---

"With the same hydrating formula as Benefit’s Fakeup Concealer, the Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer hides dark circles, while it visibly smooths the look of fine lines. This concealer stick is infused with vitamin E and apple seed extract to keep your skin hydrated for up to six hours while leaving a natural-looking, sheer finish. "

Benefit Gogo Tint Review

I have tried ALL Benefit Tints because I've been loving the brand ever since I started Blogging.  Thankfully, the brand arrived just when I'm almost "blacklisted" from the Postal Office because I've been hoarding and shopping online too much!  

So thankfully, it was easier for me to try Benetint, Chacha Tint, Posie Tint, Lolli Tint.

Most of them, I purchased a full size after trying out their tester size and seems like their newest tint Gogo Tint is another one of those tints that will go to my collection!

AMW wears Benefit Gogo Tint on lips and cheeks

Gogo tint is called a Bright Cherry Tinted Cheek and Lip Stain.

Thanks (or no thanks to Benefit) I got to try the trial sample of the Gogo Tint and I'm hooked!

Full-sized bottle looks like this, super gorgeous cap!

Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer Review

Benefit recently introduced the members of the Boi-ing Family and I am one happy BeneGal because I use concealer on a daily basis I can actually review a whole line of concealers from various brands in no time #TrueStory .

After having my makeup "refreshed" by one of the Benefit SA at Robinsons Magnolia using the new Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer, I was sold!  

The NEW Boi-ing family is housed in an even prettier packaging!  Reminds me so much of gradeschool, pinks, eraser-like packaging .... so youthful and cheery!

Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer says ---

Unevenness? Fine lines? Undereye circles? Forget filters…just apply boi-ing airbrush concealer. It’s your “real-life retouch!” This soft-focus, lightweight concealer covers imperfections all over the face with a flawless finish that’s virtually undetectable.

-Sheer-to-medium coverage
-Waterproof
-Lasts 10 hours
-Instant “airbrush” finish

• 
  

Meet the Boi-ing Family!

There are many things "I wished for" when I looked into my old graduation photo whenever I visit my mom and dad!  I wished my undereye darkness was concealed better and naturally!  But God is good, I was given a chance to take a better graduation photo, this time with better-looking brows and well concealed face!  Best of all?  I'm in ALL pink! (Added bonus pa na Class of 2017 ako! hahaha)

All thanks to Benefit Cosmetics Philippines!

After getting all excited with the lovely display during my first visit at Benefit Cosmetics Robinson's Magnolia Branch, I went down to business and got to know the Boi-ing Family!

Yes, Boi-ing isn't really knew to us Bene-lovers!  The Boi-ing we all love actually got married and had a family!  Housed in a better packaging with shades so easy to choose from (All of them comes in shades 01, 02 and 03) And guess what?  There's no second-guessing when it comes to concealing, whatever your "concealing" issues are, Benefit finally got you (and me) covered!

Benefit GALifornia Review

One of the most requested "powdered blush product" for the year 2017 is none other than --- Benefit's Galifornia Box O' Powder Blush!

What sold me from giving in to Galifornia?  Well, aside from the fact that I'm singing "GALIFORNIA Girls we're unforgettable, Daisy Dukes bikinis on top.." (sing to the tune of Katy Perry's California Girls.)  Seriously, the song does not go away!  It just gets more intense as I use this blush every single day.

Now back to another reason why I cave in!  According to Benefit Cosmetics, Galifornia is a Sweep of Sunshine --- who doesn't like that?  

And I actually own almost ALL of the Benefit's Box O' Powders and I have to say, this is my favorite box design to date!

Benefit says ---

"Benefit’s NEW GALifornia golden pink blusher is part sun, pure fun! It blends bright pink with shimmering gold, capturing the warm glow of California sunshine in a box. The signature GALifornia Dreamin’ scent features notes of pink grapefruit & vanilla. Comes complete with a custom rounded blush brush for soft, diffused application."

AMW Workshop Series VI: Bridal Makeup

Dear AMW Friends,
Life has been a roller coaster for me (in a good way) because I was extremely crazy juggling so many tasks I almost was shocked it was only 2 weeks left when I posted the registration for this particular workshop!  I was nervous, worried and.... SUPER NERVOUS!

But God is good, and I am very thankful for all the AMW Workshoppers who trusted me and went ahead and joined my 6th workshop called Saying I Do: Bridal Makeup.

Shoutout to Spark It HQ, Thanks Franco and super thanks Kara for helping me

Happy Faces!

As always, all my workshoppers get a personalized bag designed and created by Assembly Line (former Archaic Era).  

Aren't they cute?

Bridal Makeup is my most favorite "type" of makeup because that's were I concentrated my makeup artistry and actually did a lot of Bridal Makeup looks in the past before I concentrated on being a Mom and a makeup instructor.

Benefit HOOLA Lite Review

Hi AMW Friends!  Summer season is "almost" over!  But who said we can't keep the "warmth" on our faces?

When it comes to Benefit's Box O' Powders, HOOLA has always been that name that pops when it comes to "bronzer" or "instant face warmer".  But let's be serious, as much as I love that product, I wish they have something lighter that would be apt for fairer skin.

After years of waiting, I would say, this is worth the wait!  HOOLA LITE is here for girls like ME!

Housed in the well-known "box-type" packaging, I used to dislike how bulky it is making it difficult for me to bring this along for makeup gigs!  But....after piling them up together with other shades, I do like them better and I like how gorgeous they look inside my dresser drawer.

P.S. I really like the brush that comes with this!  So I can forgive the "bulkiness" anytime of the day!

Benefit HOOLA Lite Says ---

Now the award-winning hoola matte bronzer is joined by a lighter shade…hoola lite! This finely milled bronzer blends on smoothly & seamlessly. Ideal for fair skin—beyond ideal for a TANtasticly believeable bronze 365 days a year.

• Great for fair skin 
• Natural, light bronzer 
• Soft-matte powder

Details: 8.0 Net wt. 0.28 oz.