VMV Boutique to open in Davao!!!

I am so excited!

I was informed earlier that VMV is going to open a Skin-Specialist Boutique in Abreeza this coming May. I have first encountered VMV Boutique in Powerplant Mall in Rockwell and also at the Bonifacio High. I've always dreamed about having that same Skin-Specialist Boutique here in Davao.

Anyway, good news for beauty buffs. SM City Davao will be holding a 3 day sale starting tomorrow, April 29 to May 1. And for SM Advantage card holders, there will be an additional 10% discount from 10AM to 12NN on April 29. Plus, if your beauty and/cosmetics purchases in SM Department Store reaches P1,500.00, net of the earlier discount, you will get another 10% discount. Conditions apply.

Be early at SM City Davao tomorrow!

Upcoming Products Reviews:

I have lined up some product reviews on the following for the coming weeks:

1. Nichido Lipstick
2. Nichido Eye Shadow
3. Ellana Minerals Cosmetics (this is overdue)
4. Id Soap with Apricot and Salicylic Acid

Please stay tuned as I will be uploading my reviews when done. As you can notice from my most recent posts, I've made my reviews based on a timeline. I guess that this would be better as I can fully disclose the advantages and disadvantages one product has given me during my actual usage.

I really have no intention of hopping from product to product or brand to brand but I've noticed that not all products of one particular brand works for me. It's a constant search of what works best. A girl can only have so much. =)

Product Review: Triumph Sloggi Underwear

source

CAUTION: FOR WOMEN ONLY

I was thinking of posting an underwear review earlier when I was doing my laundry but I thought that it would be really OFF and OUT OF TOPIC. But since I have already finished 4 posts for today and I couldn't stop, then maybe I should give this a try.

I promise that this will be my last post for the day.

I bought a set (7 pieces) of Triumph Lingerie last year (around February or March). It was their Sloggi Shine Mini series and it came with seven different colors: white, beige, black, brown, blue, purple, and pink. It's made of 90% Polyamide and 10% Elastane. I was just amazed at how the material of this underwear did not sag even after one year of usage. I also like how stains (like blood stains from our menstrual cycle) are easily removed. I only handwash my undies and I guess it contributed a lot to its shelf life. The fabric is still firm, the garters are still great. Even the tags are readable and they still look new.

There is only one bad thing about it: The white panty has changed color the first time I put it in the laundry. Same thing happened to my friend with the same product. I don't know if it was because of "poor" water quality or any chemical reaction.

Also, the pink panty slightly bleeds so it is better to wash it separately from the light-colored ones.

Fanny Serrano

I think it's about time to pay tribute to the one and only face powder that has captured my heart since first application.

Fanny Serrano Two-Way Cake in Orleans winked at me one day (July 4, 2010)  while I was shopping at Cinderella in Robinsons Manila. I was in need of a face powder because I will be having a "mug shot" for my Petition to Take the Bar the following day and I wanted to look flawless. I find it hard to look for the right face powder for my morena skin tone and when I talked to the Cinderella saleslady, she did much salestalk and I was convinced to buy a face powder that costs P399. I am generally stingy and I don't purchase face powders at that price range. However, the heavens showered me with generosity and extravagance that day that I bought FS Two-Way Cake in Orleans.

I made a patch test when I got back in the hotel room and wow, it really blends well with my skin tone. I prayed that it won't cause me pimples or skin irritations.

On July 5, time for my mug shot. I will edit this post as soon as I have my photo scanned. I used FS Orleans over Careline's Liquid Foundation. I enjoyed using Careline's Liquid Foundation that time and was applying it with an art brush. No tricks. Just plain art brush and I really enjoyed blending it. I don't use it often, though. Wearing foundation in oh-so-hot-and-humid Manila is suicide!

I fell in love with FS Orleans. And I swear that it will be the only face powder to ever touch my face (I broke this promise, though, but I always go back to FS). Now, nine months later, my first FS Orleans Two Way Cake is almost empty. I'm going back to Manila on the 13 for the oath taking ceremony of new lawyers (See, FS Orleans helped me achieve that "winning" mug shot. Haha!) and I think that I would purchase my second cake at the very store where I purchased the first one. So, Cinderella at Robinson's Manila, be ready for me!

Product Review: Maybelline

Day 3.

The two products left are Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream and Maybelline Fruity Lip Gloss.

I really enjoy using the BB Cream and this time, I guess I finally know how to use it properly. The BB Cream provides medium coverage only. On its own, it does not entirely cover my imperfections, such as dark pimple scars, but it evens out my skin tone. But I like it because it gives me a natural glow and I have already learned how much of the product to use in order not to compromise the "one shade fits all" promise. Hehehe! (--,)

This BB Cream doubles as a concealer for me. Although it only gives me medium coverage, it is already perfect under my face powder.

For the Maybelline Fruity Lip Gloss, I discovered on Day 2 that I didn't need to reapply the product as often. It's a really nice product. A hint of color and shine for day wear but I still find it too light for working girls. I believe that it is best for high school or college students but not if you go for a corporate look.

There was something unexpected about Maybelline Fruity Lip Gloss. I developed rashes on my lips on day 3. I usually get allergies from heavily-perfumed lip gloss such as those of Victoria's Secret. It's sad that I have atopic tendencies which makes me unable to enjoy some products. Anyway, my sisters would be very happy to receive this Maybelline Fruity Lip Gloss to add to her collection of beauty products.

Product Review: Maybelline

Day 2.

After my usual facial cleansing regimen, I spread Maybelline BB cream all over my face and was happy to read that it has SPF 26. The packaging also said to use it after your daily moisturizer. So, even if it's already day 2 of using this BB Cream, it's actually my first time to use it after my moisturizer. Then the usual hesitance set in: what if my face becomes too oily because of putting too much creams on my face? I have VMV Superskin 3 Moisturizer which is for oily face and the BB Cream which promises hydrated skin could mean a catastrophic oiliness is next to ugliness day. But I'm brave enough to try it. And so I did try it.

I was not done with my Maybelline Clear Smooth Shine Free Face Powder and I wanted to try it for the last time and this time, I only used it lightly and applied mostly on my most oil-prone areas: forehead, cheeks, and nose. But I did spread it all over my face evenly to avoid looking like a dalmatian. I tried my best to achieve a look that wouldn't make my face lighter than my neck.

I lastly applied Maybelline Fruity Lip Gloss and was quite impressed of how I managed to create a more natural day look.

When I went out of my room, my brother criticized me for looking like I have just bumped my face on a bag of flour. He said my face was too white. There goes my achievement. I wiped my face with a facial tissue and used my old face powder again. Maybelline Clear Smooth Shine Free Face Powder is definitely not for me. And maybe it's time for me to make a review of my old and almost empty face powder which I fell in love with at first sight.

Product Reviews: Maybelline

DAY 1. I bought three (3) Maybelline products recently:

1. BB Cream (P249)
2. Face Powder (P199)
3. Fruity Lip Gloss (P130+)

Excited to try my purchases, I opened the package inside the mall's restroom, washed my face and tried the products instantly. I'm a first-time Maybelline user and I was eager to know whether this product is suited for me.

First, I applied Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream. What made me buy a BB Cream? I've been reading a lot of BB Creams in the market and I thought that it's about time that I try one for myself. BB stands for Blemish Balm or Blemish Base or Beblesh Balm. BB Creams gained their popularity courtesy of the flawless and beautiful Korean celebrities who endorse the product.

Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream has a catching "one shade fits all" punch line. Honestly, I was hesitant to buy it because I have dark skin and this BB Cream's shade could be lighter than my skin tone, as most of the products in the market. I bought it anyway and at first use, I was kinda impressed with how the "unique earth color shade" blended well with my morena skin.

Second, face powder. I was quite disappointed about this product's applicator. I dabbed Maybelline Clear Smooth Shine Free Face Powder all over my face and I was shocked that it didn't match my skin color at all. I guess it was two or three shades lighter. It was quite disappointing since its packaging said that Maybelline was designed for Asian skin and I already bought the darkest shade available. I corrected it and covered with my old face powder.

Third, the finishing touch of Maybelline Fruity Lip Gloss in pink. I find its consistency to be just right. The color is pale but what can you expect from a lip gloss? It has faint traces of fruity flavor that is not overpowering. I felt like I was in high school again. It's new for me to use a lip gloss on its own specially since I wear "magic" lipsticks. I prefer those color-stay lip stick since I am a heavy coffee drinker during the day and I don't want to retouch everytime I finish my cup of coffee. When I watched how Maybelline Fruity Lip Gloss was rested on my lips, I thought it would be best for me (at my age of 26) to apply it after my regular lipstick.

I was now ready for a children's party and off I go with my new Maybelline products. However, I made an instant decision that my Clear Smooth Shine Free Face Powder would go to my younger sister's beauty kit.

Derma Genesis versus Pure Zone

Derma Genesis:

1. Claims to minimize pores.
2. Has gentle "beads" that exfoliate skin.
3. Doesn't give you the "instant facelift" effect after use.
4. Feels like mud on your face but not in a negative way.
5. Gives a thorough clean although I also have extra efforts in rinsing the product after use.
6. A good buy based on how it gently cleans my face without irritating it (I have sensitive skin).
7. In terms of pore minimizing effects, I really can't say as I used this product only a couple of times.
8. Since it is clay-based, I sometimes put a sizable amount of product in my face and the product which, in my opinion, is not very economical if used daily.

Pure Zone Deep Purifying Gel

1. Claims to clear you from acne and breakouts.
2. Contains salicylic acid which fights pimples.
3. It doesn't give you that "instant facelift" effect.
4. Very cool in the face, perfect for a quick wash on a summer day. Refreshing.
5. It is gel-based and I find it really economical, a small amount of the product is enough to lather your face and neck.
6. Spill-proof container is a plus.
7. This product has been used by my sister since last year and the results are great. It's claim to clear breakouts is true.

Verdict:

Based on my experience and observations, I can say that the Pore Minimizing Gel is better than Derma Genesis. Aside from it's spill-proof packaging, the product is also economical so you get the best value for your money. And it also delivers what it promised: clear skin and acne control.

However, my conclusion is based only our own specific skin needs that were addressed by these products. Women of more mature age may find Derma Genesis to be more beneficial as it promises skin tightening with its anti-sagging properties, which a woman in her 20's might not need.

Get lucky this summer!

Photo from DealGrocer.com