PRODUCT EMPTIES # 4 : The LUCKY SEVEN

Hi guys! Can you believe it? It's the last week of June already  and we're about to face another month that is July. Oh so fast!! Another month has ended and that means I have also used up some products. That's basically the reason there is this PRODUCT EMPTIES # 4. Let's enumerate them one by one right now. Shall we?

PRODUCT EMPTIES # 4 The Lucky SEVEN

1. Rimmel Match Perfection

I have here shade 101, Classic Ivory. It feels light on the skin and contains Advanced Smart-tone technology for perfectly flawless skin under any light. Enhanced with Sapphire Radiance for an illuminating glow. Contains UVA/ UVB protection of SPF 18.  The size is 30 ml.

VERDICT: I truly love this one. It's just a good amount of coverage and it gives that illuminating healthy glow on the face. Will I buy this again? Yes please. But first, I'll finish my BB cream completely and then repurchase this one. One at a time I guess. ^ ^


2. L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer in Pure Beige

It is a concealer that is reasonably priced in the market. The coverage is medium and you can build it up if you desire. It has  very light-weight and creamy texture.

** If you want a deeper review about this one, check out this link. I've reviewed this before.

http://luzbelleathome.blogspot.com/2016/02/review-la-girl-pro-conceal-hd-concealer.html

VERDICT: Yes, I am pretty satisfied with this concealer. I'll surely repurchase this again.It gives a good amount of coverage considering its price point. You have to try this to believe.

3. Quick FX No Shine Mattifier

This is a light mattifier and others call this a primer. It somehow blurs our pores giving our face a smooth matte finish. A very good handbag staple especially it can used over make up. Now, that's interesting.

** For more in-depth review about this product, check out this link. I've done a separate review about how amazing this one is.

http://luzbelleathome.blogspot.com/2016/03/review-quick-fx-no-shine-mattifier.html



VERDICT: Yes yes and yes. I will buy this again. No other words but good things for this one.



4. Snake Brand Prickly Heat Cooling Powder in Cool Pink

This is a powder that provides a cooling, refreshing and soothing effect especially from hot weather conditions. Contains flower extract from Eldeflower, Rose, Jasmine, Daisy and Cherry Blossom that help retain moisture and soften skin.

VERDICT: Yes, this is a good product. I also have back up for this. Very handy to use on the body to give an instant cooling effect especially on hot humid days.


5. Purederm Skin Soothing Moisture Mask

This is a kind of face mask that we leave on the skin for about 10-15 minutes. This mask contains ALOE and OLIVE OIL that are both known for their soothing and hydrating properties. 


VERDICT: I like this moisture mask. It makes my skin healthy and soft. It's best to use after a week of work. Yes, I will buy this again and again.
* You can easily buy this in any Watson's store nationwide.



6. Pantene Hair fall Control Shampoo

This is a shampoo that helps damage to reduce hair fall due to breakage. I am truly satisfied with this shampoo. I can clearly notice that there is less hair fall on my pillows every morning.

VERDICT: I'll surely buy this again. It somehow works in preventing lesser hair fall.  I also love scent of this one. A good match  for me.


7. Human Nature's Natural Conditioner Strengthening for Brittle, Falling Hair

I just bought this randomly while doing my grocery shopping. It contains Hydrolyzed wheat protein that helps fortify our hair to dramatically reduce both breakage and hair loss. A rich infusion of avocado, soybean and sunflower oils that leave our tresses stronger, healthier and smelling refreshingly clean without chemicals. Also, it has a cool peppermint scent that leaves a cooling effect on the hair. 

VERDICT: Yes, this is a holy grail product for me. I am also planning to buy the shampoo version of this to fully take care of my hair. A good investment I suppose.



This basically concludes my empties review. Gladly, these empties served me well and gave me some good benefits.  How about you? Have you ever used some of these products I just mentioned? Let me know what you think. 

Sharing is loving. 
Take care guys and have a good week ahead.

--BELLE

REVIEW : Skin Food Choco Eyebrow Powder Cake

Hello everyone. Welcome back to my blog once again. Today, I'll be writing about this famous and best-seller product from Althea.com which is their Skinfood Choco Eyebrow Powder. I've also heard good reviews about this so I want to check this out myself and understand what they hype is all about. Let's continue and discuss.

What's it about?

This eyebrow powder creates a beautiful and natural looking eyebrows. Its main ingredient is cacao from chocolate so it makes and keeps our skin healthy especially around the eye area.

*The size is 4g.

*The price is around P 180.

*You can buy it there.

http://ph.althea.kr/eyebrow-powder-cake

I have  # 2 which has a grey shade and light brown shade in the other pan.

 These are the shades.  Light brown on the left and grey shade on the right

The kit comes with a mirror and brush applicator which are good and comfortable  enough to use.

How to use it?

Use the brush provided in the eyebrow kit and apply the powder on your eyebrows. 

**Be careful in using this one. Make sure to dab first the brush at the back of your hand to avoid mess since it's a little powdery.

Just only focus on the eyebrows. They're quite dark and some area are not fully covered with hair.

Step 1 : There is a huge difference between the first photo and this one. Pretty good enough but still the edges of my brows are not that define yet.

Step 2: I used an eyebrow pencil already here that is also light brown shade. This helps define the edges and cleans them somehow. 

Step 3: I used a highlighter on my eyebrow arch to make it look polished. ^ ^ It makes a difference I guess.

PROS

• It has a sturdy packaging. I accidentally dropped mine but still it stood firm and strong. ^ ^ Hurray
• It has a good mirror with a decent size and a good brush applicator too.
• This product is best for filling the brows mostly. 
• It's reasonably priced as well.
• It's quite handy and easily fits in any make up bag.
• It's staying power is pretty good.
• It also smells really great like the a real chocolate.
• Plus, the eyebrow powder can be used as a contour. 2 in 1 function that is. Yeah

CONS

• At first, it can be too powdery if you don't dab it first but it's quite manageable if you get the hang of it as the days pass by.
• The staying power isn't that long lasting especially if it's humid so you'll have to combine this with some eyebrow gel and eyebrow pencil. You can also do some touch ups using the eyebrow powder only.

My Personal thoughts

Overall, it is a good product to use  everyday especially if you want to achieve natural looking brows. But if you're after the precision and angled eyebrows, you'll have to use an eyebrow pencil and concealear just to clean the edges and make them  better. Adding some eyebrow gel/ mascara to the brows also helps to make it long lasting and holds them in place throughout the day.

Will I buy this again? Oh yes! Actually I already have a back up just in case I hit pan in the future since I use it everyday.

That's it for today. Let me know what you think also.
Keep safe and always be productive.

--Belle

FOODIE ALERT: Yakimix Sushi and Smokeless Grill Restaurant

Hello everyone! I have here an eat-all-you can experience together with my awesome college friends. I guess it was totally a perfect combination of good people and a good dining experience all in one.  Let's dive into this delicious mess. I mean this review ^ ^

What's it about?

 This pic shows the variety of sushi you can choose from. ^ ^

This is some photo of their available desserts. More cheesecake please

It's an eat-all-you-can restaurant that basically serves Asian foods like Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Filipino. Approximately, they have 150 dishes more or less served all at the same time to satisfy one's big appetite.

**This photo I got from the net. 

An added bonus also is their eat-all-you-can grill. There is like a wide variety of selections of marinated meat and sea foods that eating enthusiasts can cook on their own smokeless grill found on every table.For their beverage, they also have a drink-all-you-can  style. They have 3 selections to choose from which are the iced tea products, soda and the juice. (It really differs everyday but at least you can have these 3 kinds for your reference.)   

Where is it located?

It is located In Capitol Square in Escario Street. It's the Escario Central part. The part where you can find Jollibee and McDonald's across from the road, then you've arrived there. Besides, there is a signage in front that says CAPITOL SQUARE. Yakimix is just inside that. You won't miss. 

How much is it?

Monday to Friday Lunch -- > P 499.00
Monday to Friday Dinner -- > P 599.00
Saturday, Sunday and Holidays -- > P 599.00 both for lunch and dinner respectively
** Lunch time is open from 11:00 AM - 3:00 Pm and dinner open from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. 

They also have a PROMO. If it's your birthday, you can dine in at Yakimix 7 days before or after your birth date and you can get in for free. The condition is to bring 3 people along with you. Birthday meal for free! Hurray! ^ ^

My personal thoughts

PROS

• They have a wide variety of dishes mostly Asian cuisines that you can choose from.
• Their price I guess is pretty reasonable compared to the other buffet restaurant available in the market.
• Aside from the unlimited foods and desserts, they also include unlimited drinks so it's like all in one package.
• Also, they have grill-all-you-want style which is also an added bonus if you want to cook your own foods. It's also inclusive with the price you're going to pay.
• The birthday PROMO is a sure winner for me. A good treat to anyone celebrating their special event. Plus, their staff get to sing and dance for you. A complete treat surely.
• The eating time is also quite long  like 3 hours more or less so you will surely enjoy and savor the dishes during your time of stay there in their restaurant.

CONS

• As for me, the foods tasted a bit salty and oily so it's hard to eat that  much. That's just my personal preference. I guess, they somehow adjust the flavor/ seasoning according to Filipino taste. ( Again, this is my opinion only.)
• The flavors / taste didn't stand out for me. The foods seem to taste strangely similar to each other even though they were like Korean foods / Japanese, Chinese and the others. Odd feelings actually that made me think  it will take a longer time to visit and eat there again. 

Overall, it was a decent experience for me and my friends. It was somehow a good money's worth. It's like having quantity over quality somehow. 

Will I recommend? Sure, it's a good experience I suppose. It's a good place to hang out with friends more especially for big families. A cozy place to enjoy with your loved ones for sure.

Till next time. Have a good weekend guys.

--- BELLE

REVIEW: Nature Republic Collagen Dream 90 Skin Booster and Collagen Dream 70 Emulsion

Hello loves! How is it going? Hope you all are doing good and healthy. This time I have here a review about my updated skincare base  ( particularly my toner and emulsion combo) that I've been using for 2 months already. I've really waited patiently and used these 2 regularly before I'd give my own honest opinion and fair judgment about these 2.

What's it about?

Nature Republic's Collagen Dream Collagen Dream 90 Skin Booster is made up of 90% marine collagen and acai berry. Marine collagen is known as the best source of collagen for human skin to help reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles and fine lines. As a bonus effect, Acai Berry contains vitamin E which is an effective anti-oxidant with unique properties that work to make your skin look and feel younger. All these combine to give you a skin beautification experience that will leave your skin moist, elastic and healthy.

How to use it?

DIRECTIONS: After cleansing, dispense an ample amount into the hands and apply on the face and neck area. Gently massage the product for maximum absorption.

This is how the product looks on my hand.

This is how the skin booster looks on my face.

What I think about this skin booster ?

Actually skin booster is just another term for toner in the world of Korean skincare. The skin booster has a gel-type consistency that has a clear white liquid form. The scent has a mild floral scent which is my preference.  The product has a very light texture which makes it easy for the skin to absorb. It's like a skin vitamin  that automatically brings back the glow and makes the skin young-looking. I kid you not. Absolutely. It also feels very pleasant and light on the skin unlike other toners in the market. What I mean the western version of toners that contain some alcohol ingredients that sometimes sting the skin. You know what I mean by this, right? 

Let's go to the next. Let me introduce the Nature Republic Collagen Dream 70 Emulsion

What's it about?

Nature Republic Collagen Dream 70 Emulsion helps your skin become moist, elastic and healthy. It is enriched with 70% marine collagen and Acai berries. Marine collagen is known as the best source of collagen for human skin and helps reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles and fine lines. As a bonus effect, the Acai Berry extracts contain Vitamin E which is an effective anti-oxidant with unique properties that work to make your skin look and feel younger.

How to use it? 

After your basic skin care routine, gently spread the Collagen Dream 70 Emulsion over your face and neck. Gently massage it for maximum product absorption. For  BEST results, use this product after applying the Collagen Dream 70 Skin Booster. It truly makes wonders if you pair them together.

This is how the emulsion looks on my hand.

This is how the emulsion looks on my face. A little bit of shine but it gradually sinks in the face after a few minutes.

Viola, this is how my face looks  after I put on my BB cream, some concealer under my eye area and lipstick.Truly it makes wonder if the skin has a good skin base like these 2 powerful combination.

What I think about this emulsion?

Compared to the skin booster I mentioned above, this emulsion comes in white thicker cream consistency. It feels like putting on a light moisturizer. However, it needs some few seconds to make it fully absorbed so while waiting, you can massage your face somehow. ^ ^ Hitting two birds with one stone right? 

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Let me just say that I love love this powerful combo. Let me enumerate the pros of these duo.

• First, they make my skin hydrated and moisturized. Though the products are very light-weight on the skin, still they function like a heavy-duty moisturizer. 

• Next, they are very safe and gentle  to use. They don't give me any skin trouble / pimple or breakouts whatsoever. I have a combination skin type,  they are skin-friendly I must say.

FYI : My hubby sometimes uses these too. He has an oily skin type but still they don't give him any skin trouble whatsover. Well it's safe to say that they're gentle for his skin type as well.

• Third, the 2 products have a very light rosy scent which I truly enjoy. Don't worry about it because the scent just diffuses after a few seconds of using them.
• Third, these 2 combination is very economical to use. That means a little amount like a pea size can go a long way already. Thinking about it, it is actually wise and practical. More or less, I'll guess I'll have to use these in a span of 6 months.
• Fourth, it is truly a good base for any kind of skincare routine. Our make up truly looks much better with it underneath
•  Plus, I must say, these 2 powerful combination bring back the healthy and happy glow on my skin. Truly makes wonders just like having a facial party just in the convenience of my own home. ^ ^
• Lastly, the ingredients already tell us that they are indeed a good skincare that contain all those good stuffs that our skin loves and enjoys. It's like investing in our own skin. ^ ^

That's it for today. Let me know if you've used these 2 products already or if you have used other products from their Collagen Dream series. I'd love to know some information and probably use some  in the future. 

Take care guys and always smile.

-BELLE

PRODUCT EMPTIES # 3 The Lucky SEVEN

Hello everyone! It's the month of JUNE already and this year is almost halfway through. Just like that. W-o-w! Time indeed flies so quickly when you're having fun, right? I hope you feel the same way too. ^ ^ Today I am back with  another series of Product Empties, my third installment already. Let's dig in and discover what products I love and hate and everything in between.

PRODUCT EMPTIES # 3 My Luck SEVEN

1. Klean Color Airy Minerals Matte Finishing Powder

It is a white translucent powder with airy minerals that has a size of  6 g / 0.20 oz. It somehow removes excess sebum.  You can apply this to set the make up and do some touch ups if you're on the go. Plus, it has an SPF 15 included also. The only downside is this product doesn't include a small brush / puff for application.

VERDICT: This powder served me well for the past 6 months or so. But when I discovered the Innisfree  No-Sebum Mineral Powder, I already have no intention of buying this airy minerals powder again.



2. Nyx lip cream Monte Carlo

This is NYX's matte lip cream in Monte Carlo. It's neither a lipstick nor a lipgloss but a combination of both I suppose. It glides on the lips smoothly and sets to a matte finish after. Plus, it is buildable if you want it to be subtle on your lip color or you opt to  have bolder and darker lips on some days.

VERDICT: A sure winner for me and I highly recommend this one. I am hopeful to buy this again after I consume my other lippies here.

3. Jordana Matte Lipstick in Plum Obsession

 ** I got this photo from the net. I only intend to show and mention this one lippie that has a purple tone, the one on the right side. Refer to the next photo please.

Plum obsession swatched at the back of my arm. 

This is another lippie that captured my heart.It glides smoothly on the lips. I like its creamy formula of this one also. Plus, the price point for me is the best advantage. ^ ^  It only costs P 70-ish. Such a good steal. 

Verdict: I will definitely repurchase this and try other shades available. A must have for any ladies especially those with a tight budget but still want to look fabulous and put together. Check them out. Click on the link here for easy online shopping.

http://makeupinboxph.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=391

4. Etude House Eyebrow Pencil # 1

This is an affordable eyebrow pencil # 1 and it only costs P 128. For all beginners out there, you'll surely this. I love how easy and how creamy this one is once applied.  Also, I love the fact that the product comes with a eyebrow brush in the other end making the application easier. I don't mind sharpening this again and again because I know it doesn't break easily compared to this one. Refer to the next photo.

Verdict: This will be one of the items I'll surely repurchase soon. I'm certain I get my money's worth every time I buy. Plus, I love the brown shade of this and how this complements my very black eyebrow color. ^ ^

5. Vaseline Lotion Healthy White Instant Fair 

This lotion promises you to be 4X fairer instantly. It also restores fairness over time. This costs about P 199.00 and the size is 190 ml.

VERDICT: Yes, yes and more yes! This totally makes my skin better and healthier I must say. It also evens out my skin tone especially in my arm area.

6. Rucy's Vanity Whitening Serum

This is the product description I found from their website.

Women Whitening Serum 60ml

Perfect whitening formula for women. Contains vitamin E & collagen also known for brightening and moisturizing for a healthy young looking and damage-free skin. Suitable for all skin types and sensitive skin.

• Whitening 
• Effectively fades acne marks, hyper-pigmentation, scars
• Moisturizing
• Contains Vit. E & Collagen
• Light-weight
• Oil-free
• Water base
• Suitable for all skin types and sensitive skin
• Hypoallergenic & Non-comedogenic
• Made in Korea

Verdict:  I've used this for quite some time to observe how it works and things like that. I liked this at first because of its consistency but I didn't notice any good effects after constantly using it. Unfortunately, I won't repurchase this anymore. 

7. It's Skin Power 10 Formula WH Effector

The WH effector is a whitening essence with arbutin to brighten up your skin tone and lighten pigmentation. It can control the activity of tyrosinase and inhibit the formation of melanin with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Prolonged usage of the WH effector is claimed to reveal brighter skin tone and reduce freckles and pigmentation.

** If you want to see and in-depth review about this, click this link to know more about this skincare product.

http://luzbelleathome.blogspot.com/2016/03/review-its-skin-power-10-formula-wh.html

Verdict: I won't buy this anymore because I am now using another product from It's Skin their Power 10 formula, The Vitamin C kind. I like that better compared to this one. Faster effects but still having the same price. 

That's it for me lovely people. If you have used some of the products here, let me know what you think also. Let's share good pieces of information online to be better individuals. Anyhow, have a pleasant week and let's all be productive.