Let me take a quick break from posting travel photos to make room for this! I'm celebrating my blog's fourth anniversary this September (whew, I didn't realize it was already that long!), and what better way to celebrate than to have a lovely giveaway for you guys! :)
I'm giving away tons of makeup, skincare, and hair products to lucky readers! Read on to find out how to join!
I have work on weekdays so it was great that the grand launch of Makeup Magazine was held on a Saturday. The first issue was released sometime last year, and I've seriously been wanting to get my hands on it ever since. Now on its fifth issue (with the lovely Jessy Mendiola on the cover!), Makeup Magazine covers everything about beauty -- from the latest fashion and beauty trends to celebrity regimens and trade secrets.
I promised I would post a look wearing the green eyeshadows from Virginia Olsen, and here it is! This is a lighter version of the smoky eyes, which can be worn during daytime. You can experiment and go darker for parties or events.
Want to achieve this look? You're in luck because I'm giving away Virginia Olsen eyeshadows! Click here to join.
One of the best known brands of mineral makeup here in the Philippines, Virginia Olsen, sent me some eyeshadows from their 2014 summer collection and generously provided extra ones to be raffled away to my readers! Green eyeshadow may seem intimidating and unwearable at first but it's actually as versatile as the other colors. You can easily mix and match different shades to get the color you want. I'll be posting looks wearing these shades to give you an idea of what I'm talking about! :)
There will be five winners and each will get three eyeshadow pots namely Midnight Glam, Forest, and Spring (as shown in the photo above). The giveaway ends at 12 am on July 9, 2014, so you have enough time to send in your entries!
It was mid-March when I suddenly got a text message inviting me to be the model of Max Factor for their segment on this year's BDJ Beauty Social. Basically, the BDJ Beauty Social is a one-day event where you can listen to talks given by some big personalities in the beauty industry. You can also spend time going around the booths trying out the latest beauty products. This year's event was entitled Très Chic and was held at Samsung Hall, SM Aura. A lot of brands participated this year like Moschino, Shiseido, Covergirl, Benefit, Canmake, and Too Cool for School, to name a few.
I was among the first ones to try Max Factor's Whipped Creme foundation, which, I must say, felt very light on the skin. The makeup I'm wearing here, which deeply emphasizes the eyes, is the summer look created by Bobby Carlos for Max Factor. The makeup was really nice but I guess I'm still more comfortable wearing neutrals.
Thanks to the Max Factor team for having me and to the BDJ team for always making me feel welcome! :)
Tmart.com recently asked me to choose which eyeshadow palette I wanted to review, and knowing me, I chose the most neutral eyeshadow palette I could find. Yes, there were lots of bright, fun and colorful eyeshadow palettes to choose from. I won't deny it, they look extra nice and it was as if they were calling out my name and shouting 'pick me, pick me!'. But later on, I realized that if I choose those colorful ones, I won't be using them that much in the end. And so, I picked this one! :)
The Maybelline Clear Smooth was the first ever BB cream I bought, and I wasn't disappointed! It provides sun protection (one of the things I look for in face products) of SPF 26. That's good enough, but I'm still not that satisfied with the SPF (Maybelline recently launched a BB cream variant that offers SPF 50 though). It effectively brightens my skin and hides minor blemishes, and also evens out my skin tone. I love how it provides a moist and dewy look, yet remains natural, as if you didn't apply anything on your face!
Aside from my Shu Uemura Mousse Foundation and Too Cool For School BB Foundation Lunchbox, these are the BB Cream/Foundation I have with me. They're quite a lot considering the fact that I don't wear makeup that often. Most of these were gifts or from giveaways. To tell you the truth, I haven't had the chance to try each one out because there were just too many. Plus, I have this habit of completely emptying my current bottle of makeup/beauty product before opening a new one. As of now, I've only tried the Maybelline, MAC, and Pond's BB Cream, and so far so good! I'll be posting reviews once I get to try each one out!
It's probably time to introduce all of you to my current favorite foundation, the Too Cool for School After School BB Foundation Lunchbox! It comes in two kinds and I'm using the one for watery skin (#2). Actually, this was one of the things Ryan bought for me in Korea. I have no idea how he got hold of such an amazing product!
Among all the BB/Foundation products I've tried, this one provides the coverage best suited for my skin--not too light but not too heavy. It hides blemishes perfectly and lightens up the face, making the skin look flawless. There is a built-in spatula inside which can be useful for scooping out the product from the bottle. The texture is so thick that you only need to use a small amount at a time. I honestly think this is going to stay with me for the next few years since I don't wear makeup that often lol. Another great thing about this product is that it has SPF37 PA++, quite enough sun protection if you ask me (but note that you have to use a sunblock with a much higher SPF with frequent applications if you're planning to stay under the sun for a long time). Although it is bigger in size compared to other BB/foundation products, it can still be considered travel-friendly because it comes with a concealer and highlighter on its lid. Cool, right? :) The concealer has a creamy texture and hides my under eye circles pretty well (but then again, my under eye circles aren't that dark to begin with so I'm not so sure of its concealing ability). The highlighter is nice too since it gives off a natural glow.
Am I going to repurchase when it runs out? Definitely!
I ADORE my makeup in these photos! This is the eye makeup I've been trying to learn for the longest time. Thank you Ana Isip for doing a great job on me, especially the eyes! :) Why a makeover out of the blue? Well, Estee Lauder offered makeovers to promote their new Double Wear Foundation and I was one of the select few who was given the opportunity. Aside from the makeover, we were given profile photos, a polaroid shot, and a bag of Estee Lauder goodies.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation is their newest line of foundation. It stays in place the whole day and is available in thirty shades -- so at least one will definitely be perfect for you. I like how it gives maximum coverage without the heavy feeling and at the same time makes it look natural on the skin. If you're looking for a medium to heavy coverage foundation, you can ask for samples of these or you can try them out at the Estee Lauder counters located at Rustan's Department Stores.
Two weeks ago, one of the biggest makeup brands in the UK, Collection, was launched here in Manila. The event, held in Rockwell tent, was filled with icons that are unique to the United Kingdom -- the red telephone booth, the Grenadier Guards, and even the Union Jack. The guests arrived in a multitude of colors, turning the entire place into color wonderland. Included in the program were the three ambassadors of Collection -- Camille Co, Laureen Uy, and who would forget Manila's it-girl and actress, Solenn Heussaff. The short program ended with a toast from the Collection's executives, the brand ambassadors, and the host Nicole Andersson.
It was still pretty early when the program ended so we had enough time to eat, take photos, and enjoy the music. They were playing all my favorite songs that I found it hard to leave! Haha! Aside from being given the opportunity to attend, I felt so lucky that I got an exclusive Collection makeup kit (photo is posted on my instagram, @heyitsalyssayu). Thanks to the Collection team for an evening I won't forget!
The make up tutorial where I was featured in is finally here! I must admit, I have this fear of seeing myself on (video) camera and hearing myself talk. I can't stand seeing or listening to myself and notice all those mistakes I committed in front of the camera--be it my posture, my facial expressions, the way I speak, and even the tiniest of detail such as when I should've smiled and should it have been with my teeth showing or not. This fear might have come from the recurring thought that after it has been uploaded, a video is final--you can't change it anymore. Everybody now knows that you have this weird mannerism or that you look horrible in a certain angle. Although I didn't talk for the whole duration of the video (except for that one liner in the last part), you can't imagine how nervous I get while watching this. But I guess everyone has his/her share of insecurities. This video was the perfect first step for me to face this fear and be less self-conscious in front of the camera.
Okay, I didn't realize I was getting off track LOL. So I won this contest by Max Factor and BDJ Box. As a prize, I was given the opportunity to be made up by the Max Factor National Make-Up Artist Bobby Carlos (the person behind the makeup of the SM Accessories campaigns: Anne Curtis, Georgina Wilson, Richard Gutierrez, and Xian Lim...ring a bell?) and be featured in a makeup tutorial video.
Aside from that, BDJ Box had their first Beauty Social at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium and I was asked to attend a certain segment for the awarding.
Thank you so much to the people behind BDJ Box and Max Factor! Candice and Monica, thanks for being extra nice and accommodating! Bobby, thanks for your super awesome makeup! Hello also to some new friends, Kacey and Apple!
I was very fortunate to have been invited to the launch of BeautyBook, an online source of beauty tips and fashion advice from experts. There, you can find beauty regimens, fashion forward advice, and makeup trends for all types of women. Tried-and-tested beauty products provided on the site would come in useful for those who are looking for something new to add to their list of beauty essentials.
Every month, BeautyBook invites online experts to give you the best insights in beauty and fashion. It covers hair care (Hair Story), skin care (Skin Ever After), fashion and makeup (Magic Glam), and a listing of the best beauty bargains (The Royal Treatment). Check it out for yourself - beautybook.ph.
The launch was held at Sala Bistro at Greenbelt 3 and was hosted by the gorgeous Laica Turingan. They invited makeup artist Ning to give us an overview of this season's fashion and makeup trends. She did a short makeup demo on my friend Phya showing us a natural daytime look. While in the middle of a conversation, I was so surprised when I was called to be the model for the hair styling demonstration. Ning showed us how to achieve beach waves without using intense heat or chemicals by simply twisting the hair and making it into a bun. The launch really raised my expectations of the site and guess what, it didn't disappoint. :)
I have been on the lookout for the perfect foundation for a while now. When going to parties and events, I only use BB cream because they already provide enough coverage for my face. BB creams are no doubt, my best friends when it comes to day makeup. However, during formal parties and events, everybody would be wearing full makeup while I looked like I had been working the whole day and hadn't even bothered to apply makeup. Even if I could say that my face doesn't need heavy coverage to conceal blemishes, I think it would still be necessary to have a trusty foundation that I could use from time to time.
Say hello to the Shu Uemura Mousse Foundation in Light Beige! This will give your face a nude and sheer finish. Similar to the effect of BB cream, this foundation when applied looks very natural and gives you a certain glow. The feeling on your face is very light, as if you aren't wearing any makeup. Surprisingly, this is even lighter than BB cream. This is perfect for those who prefer light coverage, but still heavy enough to be used for formal gatherings and events.
These are the makeup I bought recently. I'm not just talking about the one above, there are more! (Click the button below to see everything.) This sudden love for makeup gave me the motivation to buy anything and everything I set my eyes on. Some of these were even bought in Korea in two separate occasions by two different people. I'm thinking of posting reviews about some of the stuff here. Do you think that would be a great idea? :)
Just an update on my life: My time is currently divided between school work and blogging. Yes, you read that right: BLOGGING! As time goes on, I realize more and more that I really am passionate about blogging. I find myself excited every time I have new outfit shots to post and catch myself spending more and more time just thinking about it. I can see myself doing this for a long time, maybe for as long as I can. :)
Another thing that sparked my interest lately is makeup. I have never appreciated it before--I even told myself once that I'd never wear makeup. But one thing led to another, and I saw the wonders makeup can do, especially when done correctly. I'm not one who applies large amounts of makeup on myself: I'm more into using makeup to highlight features and add a natural glow. In some of my posts, I only used BB cream, face powder, and an eyebrow pencil. When I have extra time, I also apply eyeliner. I'm in a stage where I tend to experiment with makeup. Because of this, I now shop for less clothes and more cosmetics. I recently bought two BB creams and two lip creams. Another set of cosmetics is on its way (hihi). And I'm planning to buy more in the coming weeks. You can follow me on Twitter (@heyitsalyssayu) or Instagram (heyitsalyssayu) for real time updates. Haha. :)
This is one of my outfits for our yearbook shots. We were required to wear something black for our batch picture and since I didn't have time to plan what to wear (again!), I went for this classic black dress. I bought this roughly three years ago from Topshop and it never goes out of style! And I love it even more because it's lace!
I'm in Cebu right now to attend a wedding and I'm flying back to Manila on January 2, just in time for our first day of class on 2013. I'll be spending New Year's Eve here, my first time to spend NYE away from home (but still with family). So excited to see what's in store for me in the coming days!
