Tuesday Tip: How to Take Care of Nail Polishes!

I’m sure you’ve already been aware of my unceasing love for nail polishes. I’ve been said it for many times, right? It’s my non-stop collecting nail polishes. From economical to expensive, I like admiring colors and finishes. If you knew me personally, I saved pennies to get my favorite bottle.*winks* I always keep them all in a good condition so they will last longer. I just treated them as my little babies (just like my shoes!) And if you had a collection to last longer, here are some three tips that I definitely swear by.

Clean Them Up- I think this is one thing we have in common. When we doing mani/pedi, there’s an extra polish that might get accrued around the screw. It upset me especially when I want to use them because some dried up polish. I know it’s just a minor blunder anyway, but for people like me who are anal about polishes. If you don’t want this to happen, just grab a cotton ball, soak it in a little polish remover and clean out the dried polish. Sounds easy right? Just make sure you do it during polish-free days, or else you‘ll get mess with the remover on your manicure.

Store in a Cool Dry Place- Personally, from the start I collect nail polishes, I usually keep them in a cool, dry place. It is said that nail polishes are at their best quality when they are kept at good temperatures. Do not let them to sun exposure, coz, I tell you how easy it will ruin your bottles. Others may show it in the whole world, but make sure you still keep them in shelves, nice bowls or baskets like mine.:)

And the last, that everyone may not know, Add PROPER Solvent!

There are some who’ve use acetone as their thinners but don’t ever, ever do it, as is a big NO because it will just ruin the entire polish, because I have learned that one time I did a home service. I suggest, have the PROPER solvent that really has a good consistency. Try the nail polish solvent! (1) Few drops inside, (2) close the cap and (3) roll the bottle in your hands and I’ll assure you, you will have great polish in no time. Just make sure you do this in good ventilation, no kids please, because solvents smell really bad, and harmful for the health, too.

I hope guys, it will help you a blow, And have time to share yours in how you take care of your nail polishes, just comment below! I’d love to hear new opinions.:)

Monday Mani: Imitation or Inspiration

Good morning guys! There’s something wrong with me today. Yes. Am too early for our company’s anniversary. It’s new to me, I swear. If you could only know how much I took time in my daily basis, it does more time distribute with household, with THE ultimate girl. I do wake up at 530am but still I’m late, but I’m not complaining, coz it’s better to late than absent..Haha.( matatambakan ako ng trabaho pag isang araw lang ako nawala!) All the people in the bureau will definitely miss meJ Anyway, this is such a short post, I just suddenly thought, I’m in a diplomatic trade and this the way I’ve done with my nails. Omgee, Couldn’t raise my hands for the vow, but still happy anniversary to us!:)

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Twas' exactly my inspiration when I'm browsing my desktop last friday. It's something different with my usual polish. Then weekend came, my sister-in-law used her expertise in nail arts to me, but I refused in some glossy and sheery ideas of her so I insist, to try this one for me, for a change instead' so the following day, the formal event of my beloved jurisdiction, so this was my nail polish today;

say hello to my nails:)

The Faceshop's was light in the photo above, perhaps the lightning attribute, (super liwanag here sa office, promise! ) It's more of cotton candy or bubble gum pink in real life , and it's very pretty colour. I don't think it suits my personality/skin tone but I love pink shades and the silver/platinum as well. Isn't complement noh!?

tools for this inspired mani:)

does it complement each other?

For those think that it was too light for the photos to imitate, two coats of  Faceshop's PK 102 exactly beat the shade as well as the L.A Colors Craze in Live with three coats, for thicker color. So far, that's so weird nail polish I have. Haha. So tell me, it is a Yay or a Nay? Have you ever tried some nail arts that so "not you"? And what color? Please share below, and have a Happy Monday vibes!:)

Fashion Friday: David Jones Handbag, A Bag for Every Occasion!

Hi folks! Have you already heard about David Jones bags? The Figliarina’s David Jones exactly. Honestly, I just heard this last year when my friend went to Australia. It was an Australian brand that Victoria’s Secret Model, Miranda Kerr as the fashion ambassador. This is not an expensive handbag that we’ve used to, but it’s more classic and chic.

  

Would you know that it was started many years ago, in Sydney in 1838? OMG! This was oldest and only rare pieces of these were still on trading under its original name.

The David Jones brand continues to play a central role as an influential retailer in fashion, beauty and home today. And because am seeking “new” in my closet, specifically to have a new bag. You know, we, as women are not only fond of shoes, make ups and clothes, one thing that can make us happy is a nice bag, (and sometimes, made us broke!) Haha. 

Here are some pieces of DJ’s bag from my fave online shop so far;

From clutches

to beach bags/summer look vibe

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These pieces are a must-have for every fashionista. Why not carry this affordable bag on days out from clutches to beach bags and all bags in between, your choice is endless whether is classy black clutch  that you are after or a camel bag for the office. You can share this to as gifts or anything that will take you to long shopping  trips or trip to the beach. Adorable right? 

Now for you lovelies, I’ll be giving this discount code, ZBAPQVA for your any type of everyday bags. Sounds interesting, right? Just use the code above when you check out your orders at www.zalora.com.ph.

Meanwhile, this was in my cart;

This bag of mine bound to become a classic and exudes a lasting appeal that I might bring to my working days.*happy dance here*  So what's your David Jones bag? Have something to eyeing for?

Review: Skin Food that Hurts in Manila!

I do routines the best that I can be, (especially if I have a lot of time) as the moment I became a queen, I preferred simple as it could be. I don’t go for the most expensive too, if I know there’s a cheaper alternative. It’s nice that there are stores that offer sample, and you would try the products you normally wouldn’t, and you have time to think if you would purchase it.

Such is the case with SkinFood.

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Knowing how I’m into Asian beauty products, my colleague buddy gave me a sample of Skin Food’s Gold Caviar Toner and Emulsion. They come in really petite gift sets that I just squeal and tried them for a couple of weeks now.

The gift set that contains the Gold Caviar Toner and Emulsion

Skin Food is a Korean brand that makes products that are derived from food ingredients. They have marked in the industry that it has become one of the most sought after brands. I have been a fan of their products because they are effective, comes in good packaging. I remember how my colleagues’ buddies hoarded some in Korea since it was less than priced here in Manila. Sheesh! They almost jacked up prices to such extent that I wonder if they WANT to go out of business. I swear, the prices in Manila Skin Food are sky-high compared to the actual Skin Food in Korea, where it’s basically a brand that’s on par with Etude House and Faceshop. Their price points are all similar, and they’re all known brands that teens and women use.

Skin Food’s Gold Caviar skin care line has great anti-aging properties that help in keeping your skin supple and youthful. Caviar contains ingredients that help in renewal in skin cells and it slows the aging process, too. In addition, gold is said to have antioxidants that fight off free radicals. Sounds very luxurious, doesn’t it? I mean gold and caviar for the skin? It sounds little extravagant but they definitely do wonders.

Gold Caviar Toner Review

This Korean skin care line was exemplary and has a fine packaging. It is thick, clear liquid with some gold flecks. It reminds me of sugar syrup but without stickiness. The products absorbs into the skin fairly well. It smells like grandma-ish scent but not overpowering. It fades away quickly (or I just don’t seem to care to smell) I took a couple of minutes to wait for it to be absorbed. It’s not drying like most toners since I have a normal combination skin. This small bottle lasted for about a week. It costs $4.99 (P215) You can purchase its Full Size (140ml) around (p400) but in Manila, Skin Food sells that for P2,000 each. I GET that for a glass bottles it’s harder to ship them and that customs fees are expensive but hello to that 300% mark up. It so much a bit higher. It would definitely hurt your wallet. Like what I’ve said, Etude House and Faceshop have glass bottle items as well. But they’re not as horrible about pricing as Skin Food.

a thick liquid with gold flecks in it

Gold Caviar Emulsion Review

If we could look for the meaning of “emulsion” in Wiki, it was stated that it’s a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible (non mixable or unblendable) It is dispersed and continuous phase of liquids. One example is milk and some cutting liquids for metal working. Based on my observation, it looks like a regular moisturizer, the lightest and absorbs quickly that doesn’t leaves you a white cast. It also smells powdery granma-ish that’s not overpowering. I feel non greasy after I used the toner. It’s Full Sized (145ml) in (P400) and EXPECT the horrible mark ups, as they tack on an average of 200-300%! Ang lakas maka-freak out!  Shame on onlines whereable Filipino company sells this.

looks and feels like just a regular moisturizer

My Overall Impression

After I used these samples (without any products) for couple of weeks, I have noticed the difference in my skin. It is smoother and much supple, especially when I’m at cold areas. I wasn’t able to dry unlike my ordinary days. I will recommend to try these out and get the full line especially girls who have normal-combination skin.

These products don’t come cheap, so I suggest you bought it on abroad, or else your wallet hurts.

How about you guys? Have you tried using Skin Food? Tell us your favorite.:)

Tuesday Tip: 5 Ways Not to Overspend on Beauty Blogs!

I’d like to share what I’d read from one of my favorite blogs. I am agree that people/bloggers are spending too much just for the new beauty items “for the blog” BUT I understand that if you have a big budget and you want high end products, and then don’t let anyone to stop you! Everyone is entitled to do their passion whatever it may be. I was amazed with beauty bloggers who uphold free products for reviews in return.

The mere fact that most of us who blog are just beauty buffs who wanted to share our thoughts and views on products or beauty in general. Besides, it’s not only the bread of some blogger, like me. I may say I blog everything under the sun, anything that I can share of.

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I still believe that blogging about beauty isn’t about the latest, the newest and who can buy the most. It's about having a passion for beauty, for what you’ve may like. As a new blogger, I really consider this passion for subject to be detail. You can’t set up blog to blog just about beauty and then start thinking of what stuff to buy to blog about. Then if you have, PR companies will send you a million of freebies. Haha, that’s perks of being a blogger! Right? BUT laugh at me, I never asked for this. It’s a normal that starting a blog is just from the heart, your passion to share, there are no tips for what to buy, you either have them or you don’t. Sometimes the PR things happen in which case, good for you! But these days, the blogosphere is crowded so lean times are ahead and fact is, we’re pretty much on our own, just like mine.:)

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So what does a beauty blogger do? Does she go broke buying everything she sees so she has something to review? Does she buy a lot of lipstick? For everyday updates? Does she kiss ass with PR so she gets showered with freebies that she could never use up nor even like? Does she have to do massive shopping hauls and share them with her readers?

Oh well, no you don’t. Do it if makes you happy and doesn’t send you to the poorhouse. Don’t if it will or if you feel it places unnecessary pressure on you and your finances. Anyways, here’s my top five ways having my large beauty collection;

1. Shop in your store- As I observed in few that beauty blogging is all about latest, newest and high-ends, it’s not necessary to blog luxurious all time, sometimes, there’s drugstore that offers quality and it is good to look back sometimes.It might surprise you but it’s the common everyday items that people tend to overlook in favor of the next collection. Do you have your favorite red lipstick? Mine is (AVON Carmen Rose) Do you feel embarrassed that it’s just a drugstore and everyone’s perhaps using it? I’m not! It might surprise you but one of the most popular searches that spread in blogosphere was MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick. Everyday brands and products tend to get overlooked by the majority so why not fill that niche.:)
2. Subscribe to beauty box- These are sizeable collections. Sampleroom, BDJ, Glamour Box and Saladroom for instances. These are less than 1k for new stuff that you may try and post reviews. The good thing is if you have 5 or more products, then you’ll have 5 or more items to reviews. Enough for a week! Not that bad eh!:)
3. Samples add variety- Some beauty blogger doesn’t afraid to ask at the counter for sample of skincare, make up like primer or foundation (in a right way). It is obvious that if you do it ,some says NO and blessed if you get the sample to try, and you can share your thoughts about it and again. In some instance, I hesitate to recommend to buy samples from certain websites that sell them in a cheap but I am wary about their expiry dates that rarely printed on samples like Korean cosmetics. I’d rather to ask my friend to buy me whenever they go abroad. :)
4. Attend a Beauty Workshop- This is one of the interesting phase of beauty blogging. Some of brands hold beauty workshop that generously give samples during the workshop, sometimes you not only get the full sized product (review #1), you can also get the little bag of samples ( review #2,3,4) and the learning experience  would be ?(review #6). How about that? Another worth of posts from just one event, right?:)
5. Blogging is not all about beauty/product reviews- This is what I’m held to, because it bores me whenever I write review of the newest and the latest. I think some of your readers get bored too if only fashion, reviews and beauty that contains in the blog. Don’t get me wrong but that’s the myth. I was keen on sharing some personal story like where do I go, what I wore in my face, some of my daily dose of nail polish, or just some snippet of my tea. Which was it?
   Have tutorial beauty tip and Share it. Have opinion on what issues now, or just simple random thoughts for example. These are the things that don’t need money and can potentially help someone much more than a product review ever can.
   
   
   I have learned so much from this, that’s why I make mine. I hope it will also help any especially a new blogger out there who want to start blogging but not sure how to continue once you have finished about products in your collection and also those who are feeling the pressure to buy, buy, buy! Bear in mind that we do it for our passion, for the love of it, not because everyone else is doing it, just be yourself, be creative (I’m learning it!) about the topics. I know we could exceed dozen of product reviews with good blogging. So stay tune for my next review! Haha.

   
   
   Happy Tuesday ahead!:)

   
   
   Disclaimer: These blogging tips are adapted in my readings and based on my own experiences. I'm not ‘’guru” but hopefully you'll be helped in this element. Feel free to suggest and ask question in the comment box.

Monday Mania: Trio in One Treat!

Hi lovelies! How’s your weekend so far? Ako, sobrang bitin! I know this wasn’t our favorite day. Monday was so stressful, traffic jams and nakaka-tamad! I did a lot of errands kanina, it was very special day pa naman for me since there were three (3) things to be celebrated. I would like to begin with surprising  the little girl since this was her seventeenth month. We get used to celebrate that every 15th of the month, we had prepared something for baby boo. It’s not necessary to be extravagant, sometimes the most touchable was how we accentuate our love and care, and even simple kiss and hug everyday counts, just to show how much we were grateful and blessed that we have her.

Anyways, after work the King decided to buy something for her little princess. We’ve wandered mall and we bought her something she could be interested. Little things for the pretty little princess.:)

funny she'd pick that shoes from store exactly her size:)

new set that will surely caught her attention, she really loves kitty:)

I'm able to watch teleseryes, now she enjoys coloring book:)

Secondly, it was the birthday of my soul sister that always with me throughout the years, in bad and good times. I remembered how brutally I pinched and stabbed my pencil to her. ( maldita, I know!) but until now we are good as we have the same blood and soon she would cross motherhood. I’m so excited with her princess too.:) 

Lastly, I’m one of those who enjoyed the treat from Krispy Kreme’s 76^th Anniversary! In celebrating their delightful years, they are treating us with awesome promo. Who wouldn’t be excited with a box of six (6) Krispy Kreme’s Original Glazed doughnuts for P76? That was best shared to above respectively. In the meantime, my manic Monday relieved for that trio reasons. What's yours? How did you spend your Monday? Let's make kwento:)

ZALORA, Another Favorite Online Shop!

The advent of online shopping changed the face of commerce. Countless online stores that arose, one here was Zaloraph which began last year. To sum up their background, Here's Zalora  may offer with you;

Zalora offers best in local and international brands, that offer ever-expanding line up of choices, many of which can only be found here. (So I’m happy I got mine!) Zalora Philippines prides on outstanding customer service alongside a fantastic selections of shoes, clothing and accessories from internationally renowned labels. Their product offers the perfect choice whatever your personal style.

I couldn’t blame people who opt online shopping especially those busiest citizens in the world, especially those working moms, with no time to walk off to the mall and go shopping, (unless it’s weekends and holidays). Why not? It is very convenient and fast-faced. I think that’s the most suitable to all career gals here. I confessed as I’ve learned online shopping, I sold much through this trade in several different stores a year ago.

Zalora takes last year, but my interest to try their line was just recently. You cannot blame me, because I am cautious when it comes to clothing and shoes. There have been stories on substandard products, misleading information and sometimes, hidden charges. But times have changed, online shopping is here to stay as online security promoted.

AND here I am again, I was sold.

What's inside this package?

These are just few, there’s a lot more of your choice. You should go try it out for yourself.

Zalora.com.ph aiming to bring women and men variety of clothes and children, too. With their free shipping services of PHP1,000 and up, you will not bother to crunch to get to those crowded shopping malls, just sit back and relax, and wait to your doorstep.:) Sobrang easy diba!?Just like the alphabet from A-Z shop. Trust me.:)
Anyways, I'll be giving away a discount code for you guys, to share my loads of positivity, anyone? Just use my code  ZBAPQVA for 15% OFF, exciting right? Hurry for more exciting pieces!

You can follow their social networks for further information.

Fan page, Twitter, and Instagram too.

Happy Tuesday and Happy Zalora!:)