my Chanel blushes

Just doing a post and swatches for my current Chanel blushes.
My first Chanel blush was Orchid Rose. I fell in love with it, and used it for more than a week! (that’s something already!) Then, I got Reflex, Incognito, Neroli Rose, Tweed Pink, Tweed Corail, Soleil Tan de Chanel (bronzer).. Powders Rosee and Azalea.. got Rose Dust, In Love and Fantasia… then Narcisse, Rose Petale, Fresque, Tea Rose.. and today, got Candy and Fandango.

I think I should stop buying na.. but then, I can still be tempted with the others.. haha!

I used the Narcisse in the morning and In Love in the afternoon.
I felt pretty, with them.. it’s like NARS and Armani blushes.. You just feel confident in them.

Here are my Chanel blushes, bronzer and powders:

Here are the swatches.. #1 and #2 (except for the bronzer and powders):





Should anyone need more upclose pictures or swatches… I’ll be happy to help out!

Enjoy! 🙂

Purchases since October ’09

Hi! Sorry for the lack of updates here in my blog.
I’m thinking of actually switching to wordpress. Blogspot is still blocked here in China, while the one I would like to transfer too (and my other blog in livejournal) can still be access here! I’m still researching.. and asking Melchor’s help on how to transfer this blog. Let’s see.

As I’ve updated here last December (I think), I’m preggy already!
After discovering that I have a dermoid cyst in my right ovary, and had it removed last April 2009, I also have a bilateral polycystic ovarian syndrome. So you see, my getting pregnant 4 months after my operation is nothing but miracle! I will not think too much about the gender anymore. Haha! Thank you for all the greetings! 🙂

I’m taken a time-out with my makeup purchases. (I guess Melchor’s kinda happy about it!) haha!
I’m a bit lazy in putting makeup!! Just not a bit, Real Lazy!!!
I’m not even putting my ever favorite blushes on me!! Hahaha!

But it doesn’t mean I’m not looking for new makeup releases anymore! hahaha! I guess I’m more concern on checking out what I now put on my face. So they have to be pregnant-friendly stuff.

For skincare, I’m now obsessed with SK-II! Yes.. SK-II!!! I’ve already checked in their website and when I found out that their stuff can be used by pregnant women, I’m totally into them na!!!
I already had the popular Facial Treatment Essence for quite sometime now. I had used it before, but haven’t found teeny weeny change in my skin! I was told by the sales assistance here in Shanghai’s SK-II counter, that preferably, I have to use the Facial Treatment Clear Lotion so that the Treatment Essence will be easily absorbed by the skin, I didn’t listen then. Haha! But right now, I got myself small trial sample of the Clear Lotion and found that my skin’s seems to be improving and softer! After my first trimester (and I guess when my prescribed Utrogestan *progesterone* ran out), I started to have some small acne, most specially near my hair line. I’m also having some freckle-spots under and near my eyes – this is due to the hormonal surge, which appear if I forgot to put on sunblock.

Currently, I’m using Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil, Facial Treatment Cleanser, Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, Facial Treatment Essence, Facial Treatment UV Protection, Facial Treatment Repair C and Skin Signature. I used the sunblock and cleanser everyday.. then, use the clear lotion and treatment essence at night.. the skin signature during the afternoon.

My SK-II items for now:

my SK-II

As you can see, my Facial Treatment Essence is about to run out. So I maybe purchasing new one soon.. and I’m itching to try their masks and brightening line!! Also, I’m tempted to try SK-II’s Air Touch Foundation!! Yes, I already have some items in my shopping list! 😉

Also, I’ve checked the Jill Stuart HK site, and found out that the Spring 2010 will be out soon! They have new blushes again!!! #11 Rose Fairy and #12 Candy Orange. I already got 8 JS blushes, I’ve used 3 of them couple of times. And now, they’ll be releasing new blushes again!!! Can’t keep up ah!!

During my first trimester, I got myself couple of items from Belli Skincare. I got the following:

Belli skincare – Elasticity Belly Oil, Acne Clearing Facial Wash and Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen.
I have to admit that for the facial wash and sunscreen, I used them couple of times only. Reasons: for the facial wash, it doesn’t lather up e! Also I used this for a week I guess, I don’t think my skin cleared up or anything. For the facial sunscreen – I just don’t like the texture…? Though I read good reviews about it.. Sorry!! But I’m still using the Belly Oil up to now. 🙂

Recently, I got myself 3 new stuff:
– Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion: it’s Winter time here, I sometimes have this itchy feeling due to the dry weather. I’m using this for 2 days, I can feel my skin’s more moisturized. Also itchiness stopped. Good thing this is kinda unscented..(?!) (I don’t like any strong scents this time, that’s why I stopped using the Shu Uemura Red Juvenus line I got from Hong Kong and switched to SK-II).

– Clarins Tonic Body treatment Oil: I’m alternating this with the Belly Oil. I love the smell and the faint tingly feeling in the stomach. Read reviews about this and can help prevent stretchmarks.. I lather this golden stuff in my tummy area. 🙂

– Vitacreme B12 cream: so wanting to try this, but I read the ingredients earlier.. it contains Salicylic acid, which is a No-No for preggy!!! (I may have to pass this on to my sister).

I’m now on my 18th week.. since it’s already 01/10/10. I’m hungry right now. Will prepare myself a cup of chocolate milk, before going to bed. I have these updates for now. I’ll update soon.. 🙂

Haul: D&G Blushes, Armani Sienna Bronzer

I finally received a package with my ordered goodies.I got: Armani Sienna Minerals Bronzing Palette and 2 D&G Blushes!They looked so pretty!! I tried one of the D&G blushes earlier, and it looked like a natural flush!Anyway, here’s the pictures of my haul:

Can’t wait to try the other D&G blush and the bronzer!! Yipeee!!!

Haul: Shu Uemura Red:Juvenus line

Hong Kong is definitely a shopping paradise!!!
Melchor and I had fun there! Anything you want, you need, you can find them there in Hong Kong.
We visited several popular malls there.
IFC, Harbour City, Sogo, Langham Place, Hong Kong Seibu, The Landmark, Times Square, Lee Gardens, World Trade Center, Fashion Walk, Silvercord. Of course, we also got to visit Mongkok area.. I believe Melchor was amazed with the people and computer/photo equipment shops there.

Of all the malls we visited, I’m so amazed with the vast and huge area of Harbour city, the tons of people in Causeway bay area nearing Times Square. (I will definitely book a hotel in the Causeway Bay area next time!!!). I failed to visit Pacific Place in Admiralty.. I have to visit this place next time.

Times Square had lots of stores also. You can find HK’s Jill Stuart counter in Time Square.
Melchor was telling me to get something from Jill Stuart, since I think he knows I love this brand!!!
(It’s so cute to hear him saying the brands that I love.. It shows how much he pays attention to what I like!!)
That shows how much he values his wife, right? hahahaha!

But when I got to the Jill Stuart counter, I can’t seem to choose anything I like!!!! Weird!!
(Please see separate entry for the picture of my JS visit! hahaha!)

Then, Melchor and I went to Lane Crawford. You can find a lot of makeup/skincare brands there!!!!
I first got the Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Argan Oil, ‘coz my skin tends to dry up especially on Winter. And I’m so curious with Argan Oil.

Moving forward, I saw the Shu Uemura counter, and quickly inquired about their new eyebrow gel. There were only 2 SA during that time, which made some customers (like me) wait impatiently for their assistance in the products. Anyway, I’ve been itching to try the Eyebrow Gel and saw that the HK counter only have two shades! I got the darkest one in Seal Brown, and they ran out of the brush for this product. Then, I was introduced by the SA to their new skincare line – Red Juvenus. As you all my read about my previous entry,, I’m concern with early signs of aging, lines and all. I noticed a faint line nearing my right eyebrow. This is due to my uncontrollable facial expressions!!! So in the end, I got the 4 of the 5 products under the Red Juvenus Line.

I got the following:

^ I got the 6OB brush @ Hong Kong International Airport Duty free.

Red:Juvenus skin care line:


– Red Juvenus Vitalizing Refining Lotion Enriched
– Red Juvenus Vitalizing Retexturing Emulsion
– Red Juvenus Intense Vitalizing Concentrate
– Red Juvenus Vitalizing Retexturing Cream

To be honest, I was totally not sure why I got these! Hahahaha!
I guess the magic word I read about this line was the ingredient of Pomegranate.
As my friend pointed out to me, when I told her I got these and they have Pomegranate, “You’re obssessed with Pomegranate talaga!” hahahaha!

After I got these, that’s when I finally opened my laptop and look more into this line.
Taken from Shu Uemura website:

shu uemura launches a breakthrough in skincare technology to
prevent first signs of aging such as dull skin, loss of elasticity, and fine
lines. red:juvenus is designed to protect against free radicals and vitalize
skin cells by enhancing the flow of essential elements for youthful, radiant
skin.

It can be that bad right?

The ingredients can be found at their website.

^ I love anything with Pomegranate! hahaha!

I’ve been using these newly purchased items for almost a week. And I can say, my skin’s softer, more glowing and healthy. I will update this post after 2 weeks or a month. I can see obvious improvements with my skin before.. But I hope to have significant effect, specially with the faint line I got in my eyebrow area. Hahaha!
I was surprised with this purchase and I think Melchor also felt that way! He wanted me to get things from Jill Stuart.. instead of Shu Uemura! hahahaha!

My daily regimen:
Morning: Emulsion, sunblock, powder, eyebrow gel, blush, lipstick, lip treatment
Night: Lotion, Concentrate, Cream, eye cream, spot whitening gel, lip treatment
So far, so good 🙂
I have these thoughts for now.. 🙂
One thing’s for sure, I love to visit Hong Kong again and again and again!! 🙂

all about the Hair

I realized that I have to start and be concern with ageing. Right now, I’m still searching for the right products for my face.. then, I thought I also have to be concern with my hair!

With that, I’ve been longing to get myself some hair products. I love the Kerastase oleo relax and the smell!! It’s so yummy!! Hahaha! I got myself the Bain Satin, and I wasn’t too happy with the fragrance. But with Bain Oleo Relax, wow!! I love it!

Anyway, I got myself the shampoo and some masque. I had a hard time choosing as they have a lot of selections.. I was looking for something I can do during Sunday.. and I prefer not to do homemade treatments like my friend, Debstone’s doing.

So, I got my orders today:

got the following: Kerastase Bain Oleo Relax shampoo, Oleo relax masque, Age recharge and Nutridefense. Further description of them can be found at Kerastase website.

I opened the Oleo relax masque and shampoo, and I love the smell! haha! I’m excited for Sunday for my first treatment.. This will now be part of my weekly prettifying!! What color should I first use..? hmmm!! Orange, white or green…?!! Exciting!

hauling Paul & Joe

When I was in Shanghai, I heard from my mom that they love Paul & Joe stuff, and I remembered they said they got a lot of stuff from P&J. I was not too excited about it.. The packaging was not as appealing as the others I use! hahaha!

Now that I’m here in Manila, I was curious.. After the SA Von there tried the new stuff with me… and I tried my best not too look excited! hahaha! It looked very nice, the foundation doesn’t feel too heavy.. and it made my skin looked glowy!!! I have a lot of stuff already, and I don’t think Melchor will be happy to know I’m not relaxing here for the operation! hahaha!

But then, Happy thoughts are Make-up right? So I need happy thoughts and these P&J are really nice!! I like them.. and I’m trying my best not to buy any more. I love to get my hands on the Disney Balls!! hahaha!! Please note that I got the above items in 2 purchases! The very preggy SA Annabel was really nice, which made me buy some stuff for the 2nd time!

Oh, I got the following so far:
1) Paul & Joe Protective Fluid Foundation UV
2) Paul & Joe Protective Foundation Primer UV
3) Paul & Joe Protective Dual Powder Foundation UV
4) Paul & Joe Eyebrow Duo
5) Paul & Joe Moisturizing Compact Foundation Refill
6) Paul & Joe Disney Milky Treatment

Oh, i got the makeup case bag and a suitcase for my freebie! Of course, not only did I got some stuff in order to avail the freebie, my Mom, sister and Aunt/Cousin also got some P&J stuff!! Adorable indeed!!

I’m also interested in their skincare!! And maybe I don’t know.. lippie maybe? hahaha!

Hey Melchor, I’m doing my best not to buy makeup here.. but I cannot resist not getting P&J!! hahaha!

BB Cream and Marbleade

It’s been awhile since I first read about BB Creams.
To be honest, I’m not too clear about what the hype of these creams.. but I guess you can say, I’m very curious!
So, with that, I gave in and bought myself a BB Cream to try.
I’m searching for the best BB Cream, so that I’ll just buy that.. instead of testing some of the BB Creams in the market! But then, I’m not sure if I like to do that.. 🙂

Anyway, it says here that: (*taken from here)

INTRODUCTION to BB cream

Blemish Balm, also call BB Cream, is known to have been formulated as an after-treatment cream to help patients who have gone through laser skin surgery to soothe and regenerate the skin. Soon, it became popular with many Korean celebrities.

Advantage

-Helps to soften skin texture

-Prolonged used of product may help to improve overall texture of skin & fade acne scars

-Act as a makeup base & foundation

-Helps to cover the irregularities on the skin, even out skintone, camouflage undereye circles, scars & add radiance to face

I got myself Dr. Jart+ Rejuvenating Blemish Base Silver Label. Here’s the poster of this BB Cream!
I will try this BB Cream tomorrow. A bit excited! 🙂

Also with that, I got myself Etude blushers called Marbleade!
I think these kinda look like MAC Mineralized Skin Finish… Since MSF are a bit pricey and hard to find, I found myself wanting to try these Marbleade!
They’re pretty, right? Should I get myself the MAC Stippling brush to use this? hahaha! 🙂
I hope to use these soon! 🙂 Yehey!!!!

small haul for the day

I got myself some treats for today!
I first got the 3M Acne Dressing I ordered online.
I’m having some acne troubles for the last few weeks, and I hope this will work! 🙂
After that, I finally got my Jill Stuart stuff!!! Happiness!!!!
I got myself – Jill Stuart Lipstick #17 Sunset Glow and #7 Hush Blush!
They look pretty, right? Smelled good too!! Hahahah!!
I still haven’t tried them yet.. but the looks of the lippies… I’m wanting more! hahaha! Happy happy!!!

hello Beijing!

Melchor and I spent our Chinese New Year in Beijing.
I guess to be here in China, one has to at least visit outside it’s assigned place, and there’s no more perfect place for our holiday than to finally visit the China’s Capital. We got our tickets from Ctrip, reserved 4 nights stay at Motel 268 chain.. Asked for tips and must see places, itinerary from good friend Debstone, we’re off to Beijing!

It was my first time being in the Hong Qiao Airport, which is quite near in our place now. I learned that there are specific special lanes solely for travelers going to Beijing! Melchor and I got concern with the allowable weight for hand-carry. So we have to repack our luggage there, in order to have a 5kgs only for hand-carry.

One thing I realized upon arriving in Beijing is that, THE PLACE IS REALLY HUGE!!!!
I guess comparing it to Shanghai, Beijing’s pretty huge place!! The roads I think are 4-lane/5-lane wide… It was really so spacious!!!
For our arrival, we just had some pictures taken along here and there.. and visited the Wangfujing Pedestrian Walk, which we saw the 1st Peking Duck restaurant we tried – Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant. We were hungry and cold at that time, and we decided and ate at Quanjude. We ordered the following: Half Peking Duck, Duck wings with Vegetables, and 1 Pot of Pigeon Soup! hehe 🙂 We noticed there were a lot of people coming in to Quanjude. I guess this Peking Duck resto is one of the popular and visible one in Beijing, having 8 branches all over there. It was 25 January that night, so I guess, some people also ate out with their families, and most of the shops in Wangfujing were closed at that time.. including the Food alley there.

For our 2nd day in Beijing, Melchor and I decided on to visit the Great Wall. As per Debstone’s suggestion, it is better that we visit Mutianyu part of the Great Wall, rather than the more touristy Badaling. We joined a tour, booking at ground floor of Motel 268. We left the hotel at around 745AM, and joined with 3 other tourists. Part of the package was to visit the Sacred Way which is actually part of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was actually just a long walkway, with some statues along the road, facing each other. There were a lot of stories behind these statues, it will be better to look for some documentaries regarding this. Then we also visited the Jadeite factory and Traditional Chinese Medicine place, had lunch and off we go to the Great Wall.

The wall is really long… hahaha! And it’s not easy to walk ah!! I wonder how did the soldiers of those times could actually run, and walk, and stay in these great walls, with all their armor, weapons, etc.! We took the Cable car all the way up to the Great wall (Pt. 14), then we have to walk down towards the Pt. 6 – wherein we also bought tickets for the Toboggan slide all the way down from the top! Hahaha! Melchor was actually a bit skeptical for the slide, but of course, we took it, and it was actually a fun way to go down! I can’t imagine myself really walking all the way…? hahaha! We got back to the city around 430PM already.. Then Melchor and I wanted to eat some snacks.. but we ended up going for the our dinner! hahaha! We had dinner at 辣婆婆! hahaha! We were enticed by the yummy aroma of the Peppers! Sichuan food! Just what we need at that time because of the cold weather! We ordered: Spicy crab, Roast platter, String beans. hahaha! After that, I was itching to go the Scitech plaza, (for Armani makeup!), but alas it was closed that 6PM! So we went back to Wangfujing to spend the rest of the night with the Street food near that area.

For our 3rd day, our itinerary for the day was purely Beijing city – the most visit places of Beijing.
So we started off with the Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Scitech Plaza, and LiQun Roast Duck Restaurant. hahahah!

Tiananmen Square is a really huge plaza!!! It links directly to the Forbidden City. There were a lot of people that morning. I guess aside from tourist, I can see that there were also local tourist, like the people in Beijing also were taking this time to visit and explore their city. Then the Forbidden City… We got the tickets at Rmb 40.00 I think… then, also rented the virtual map, with earphone to hear the history and some explanation of the city. The place was really huge ah!! A lot of gates, halls, palace, rooms, etc.! hahaha! We didn’t really visited all of the rooms here, but just looked into the important and historical rooms. 🙂 hahaha! There were a lot of people e! So I don’t think I like to continue on with the pushing and lining up just to take a glimpse of the other rooms… 🙂

We continue the afternoon by visiting the Temple of Heaven.. I actually read that there are a lot of temples of the Emperors within Beijing… But the Temple of Heaven is the most popular one. There were a lot of people also when we visited that time… and bought tickets that we can visit and enter the significant places inside this big compound. With our ticket, we can enter the following: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿), the Echo Wall & The Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛). After that, I was excited already.. hahaha! We’re going to Scitech Plaza!! hahahahah! Finally, I can personally look into Giorgio Armani Makeup! 🙂 The prices of Armani makeup in China is way higher than it costs in Hong Kong. But then, I bought some, just something to bring back to Shanghai.. hihihi 😉 Then, it was dinner time! We went to LiQun Roast Duck Restaurant. This resto was not easy to find… hahaha! It’s not located in anywhere you can remember because of landmark or what… It was actually inside a not so well-known Hutong… Because we were a bit rushing already, we took a taxi, which the driver personally called LiQun to know its exact location. We were a bit lost near LiQun, this is because the road to LiQun is not even wide enough to assume its the place of the restaurant!! This time, we just ordered one whole Peking Duck, and its assortments. 🙂 Yummy… hahahaha!

For the 4th day, we researched and visited Summer Palace in the morning. Since Summer palace was a bit far from the city proper, we had to take a bus that will bring us to almost near the place.. We have to transfer another bus and walk a bit! Then, there it is.. The Summer Palace. The place is also packed with people! The popular lake there is the Kunming Lake, was frozen, completely frozen!! You can see afar there were some people ice skating! hahaha! This time, we didn’t bought the tickets that can lead us to the buildings inside. We just took pictures of the place, views 🙂

After that, we moved forward and visited the Olympic Area – Bird’s Nest and Water Cube! heheh 🙂 The place was also packed with people! hahaha! We just took pictures outside both buildings! hahaha! I heard that the ticket to enter the Water Cube is Rmb 30.00, and you can’t stay long inside. Melchor heard I think you can only walkby for 5mins….? After that, we went again to Scitech Plaza, hahaha! Then, we went to Hou Hai area, to have our romantic dinner (as per Debstone! hahaha!) We had our dinner at the S’Silk Road – a Yunnan food resto.. I actually didn’t enjoyed too much with the dinner, that brought us back again to the street food of Wangfujing, for a bowl of Meat balls soup! hahaha! 🙂

Our last day, we were packing the morning, so that we can surrender our rooms for check-out. We booked our lunch at Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant. We discovered Da Dong, thru the Agenda booklet we got from the hotel. Agenda booklet is like a small Cityweekend magazine, wherein they feature restaurants, foods, events, etc. So we reserved for a 12:30PM lunch, but we actually arrived the place around 1:00PM already! Because!!!!!!! The place is not easy to find, AGAIN!!! With the tall skyscrapers around the city proper, it’s really not easy to find e!!! Grrrr…. hahahaha!
But when we got in to Da Dong Restaurant, and found the place with the perfect ambiance, it made the long walks and all worthwhile! hahahaha! The menu was inch-thich, and full of wonderful pictures! We ordered one whole Peking Duck (again!! hahaha!), and steamed fish.

We were so happy to find this resto… It was really refreshing! I mean, the ducks are pretty lean and yummyyyy!! hahahaa! Overall, this resto is definitely a must-try in my Beijing list! hahaha! It will be nice to bring families and friends there.. hahaha! It was a very very nice restaurant! I think I blogged about Da Dong Peking Duck here. After that, we were off off to visiting the Monument to the People’s Heroes. We just took pictures outside.. then rode the subway back to Wangfujing! hehe! Took our last pictures… Walked around.. Then it’s bye bye Beijing time.

Overall, Melchor and I had a great time with our Beijing tour. Not only that we’re together, but we proved to ourselves that we can have fun by doing tours on our own! hahaha! I wonder where will we be bound next.. hahaha! But I’m sure it will no doubt be as fun and exciting as our Beijing holiday.

Harley anyone?

I think it will be fair that I also blog about Melchor’s shopping! haha!
When we visited Ya Dai Shopping place in Pudong, Shanghai last December (I think), Melchor has been bugging and researching about the Harley Davidson leather jacket he saw there. If you’ll google “harley davidson”, you’ll find that aside from the motorbikes they’re selling, their accesories & men’s wear are also pretty popular.

After several months of looking, researching, etc… you name it… Melchor finally got himself the leather jacket! It was delivered to us yesterday! hahaha! Woohooo!! It looked really nice!! Well, the price was nice! hahaha! 🙂

So, what do you think? It looked nice naman, right? It looked good on him!! I know that Melchor’s excited for the weekend already.. to wear the Harley of course!
hahahaha! 🙂