Review : L.A. Girl Gel Liner

I'm not a very big eyeliner fan. I've had a couple of misses with eyeliner products and that's probably why I tend to stay away from products like that. I'm very big on the no eyeliner look and on the occasions where I do need to put on eyeliner to actually complete the look, I always go for a smoked out hazy effect using a really deep matte black eyeshadow...BUT (yes, capital letters for emphasis) recently a product has caught my eye so much that I just had to try it our for myself. The L.A. Girl Gel Liner kit has quickly become a cult favorite among makeup artists, beauty bloggers & beauty enthusiasts alike and I've heard (and read) a lot of good things about this product. I got my own kit a few months ago and I'm finally ready for a review. What : L.A. Girl Gel Liner Kit (with bonus liner brush!) Where : I purchased mine from @prinsesitasarahcosmetics on IG but I'm also selling this product at Unicorn Delight! Price : P250 at @prinsesitasarahcosmetics, P200 at Unicorn Delight (Pre-Order!) What L.A. Girl says about this product:
"This gel liner has a rich and creamy water resistant formula that glides on smooth without smearing or smudging for long lasting, all day wear. Professional fine eyeliner brush expertly defines eyes to create that ideal smokey or dramatic look effortlessly."
The kit is available in 3 choices - very black, dark brown & brown. I obviously chose black because on the rare occasions that I wear eyeliner I always opt for black. I've heard of some people purchasing the dark brown & brown variants to use as a brow product. You can check out MicMics Corner for a review on how it worked for her! To be honest, I was a bit disappointed when I took this photo. I realized how tiny the pot actually is in real life compared to other gel liner pots I've seen up close... But I told myself not to judge too quickly. I'm glad I didn't because I ended up liking this product a lot. The product itself is housed inside the frosted jar with a black plastic screw top. It doesn't look or feel cheap at all but I'm not so sure how sturdy the glass-like material of the packaging is so I'd be careful when bringing this product on trips. The kit also comes with a synthetic bristled applicator brush which I actually like as well. It's the right stiffness and the bristles are packed in a way that makes it really easy to use this brush to line my eyes! The tip is really thin enough to create sharp and straight edges!
What I Like : > Affordable. > Available in 3 different shades, you're bound to find a shade that will work for you & your needs! > Packaging isn't cheap looking. > A complete list of ingredients and shelf life is printed on the product's box. > The brush included is actually useful! > Highly pigmented product, a little goes a long way. > Creamy in consistency, hence no "tugging" when I apply this on my eyes. > Multi tasking product. I've tried this as an eyeliner as well as a shadow base for deep smokey eyes. > Long lasting especially when allowed to thoroughly dry and when set with a black eyeshadow. What I Didn't Like : > Only available online as this has yet to be available in Zamboanga department stores. > Can start fading and smudging a bit towards the 5 hour mark on my oily lids that's why I make sure to set this product.
Check out some looks I created and used this product to do my eyeliner!

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Can't Hold Us

1. Put your Spotify, iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.

In my case, I used Spotify and chose the playlist Top 100 Tracks of 2014-Global.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

4. Tag 25 friends.

I didn't get tagged but rather stumbled upon this tag here.
So, I'm tagging YOU dear reader! Let's have a bit of fun, shall we?

5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.

6. Have Fun! 

IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY?

-- Happy by Pharrell Williams

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?

-- Classic by MKTO

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

-- A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

-- Drunk in Love by Beyonce

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

-- Stay High by Tove Lo

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?

-- La La La by Naughty Boy

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?

-- This Is How We Do by Katy Perry

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

-- Fancy by Iggy Azalea, Charli XCX

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

-- Animals by Maroon5

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

-- Say Something by A Great Big Wordl

WHAT IS 2 + 2?

-- Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR EX BOY/GIRL/BEST FRIEND?

-- Break Free by Ariana Grande

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

-- The Man by Aloe Blacc

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

-- Magic by Coldplay

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

-- Addicted To You by Avicii

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

-- Get Lucky by Daft Punk

WHAT WILL YOU DO AT YOUR WEDDING?

-- Best Day Of My Life by American Authors

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

-- Turn Down For What by DJ Snake (WTF?! Seriously? Hahaha)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

-- Shape Of My Heart - Sting

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

-- Locked Out Of Heaven by Bruno Mars

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

-- Edge Of Desire - John Mayer

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?

-- Wasted by Tiesto

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

-- How Long Will I Love You? - Ellie Goulding

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?

-- I'm Not The Only One - Sam Smith

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?

-- Rude - Magic

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?

-- Maps by Maroon5

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?

-- I See Fire by Ed Sheeran

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?

-- Cool Kids by Echosmith

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?

-- Demons by Imagine Dragons

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?

-- I Got U by Duke Dumont

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

-- Everything - Lifehouse

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?

-- Bang bang by Jessie J., Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE PERSON WHO TAGGED YOU?

-- #Selfie by The Chainsmokers

WHAT WILL YOU NAME THIS NOTE?

-- Can't Hold Us by Macklemore, Ryan Lewis

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My Favorite Local Beauty Products + A Giveaway!

I'm sure that everyone has or wants to have high end beauty products to love but sometimes we just can't afford it (yet) so we have to make do with more affordable products, right? Well, that was (and still is) my perception when I started with makeup and over the years I've tried a lot of local products which I really do love. Today I'm sharing them with you through this giveaway! "You're the sprinkles on my FAIRY BREAD" pouch is from Typo Singapore. It's the perfect size to keep all the lovely products that I'm giving away! Here's the rundown of only some of my favorite local beauty products! I'm giving away 6 (six) products this time... Ever Bilena Ever Original Pencil in Brown A lot of people compliment me on my eyebrows and always ask what product I personally use to fill in the sparse areas and create the whole brow shape. Well this my friends, is the answer! I've tried so many brow products that work wonderfully but almost always leave my wallet crying so I set out to look for something more affordable. I found the ever original pencil during the early months of 2014 and have been using it constantly. It's long lasting, easy to work with, multi-purpose (I've used this as eyeliner too!) and best of all affordably priced! Ever Bilena Foundation Refill with UVA/UVB Protection in Soft Beige I reserve my MAC powders for special occasions so I've always been on a lookout for a budget friendly powder that I can use to set my foundation or use on it's own. This particular one is very lightweight, has buildable coverage and doesn't make me break out. I'm in the shade soft beige which is warm and has yellow undertones, perfect for Pinay skin tones! Ever Bilena Matte Lipstick in Mauvey This lipstick is my go-to "local" nude-pink shade that doesn't wash me out. It has a matte formulation but I don't find it drying. It lasts long and is pigmented. I love pairing this when I go for a smokey eye look and also for everyday looks. This particular shade is considered a "favorite" among a lot of Philippine based beauty bloggers. Careline Oil Control Blush-on in Fresh Tomato I first read about this blush here. Fresh tomato looks a bit scary in the pan but with a light hand and good blending it looks absolutely stunning in person! It's great for everyday use and really brightens the face. This blush lasts a long time on the skin and I notice that my cheeks a less oily at the end of the day when I use this particular blush. SanSan HD Concealer Pen in Beige This has been a staple in my kit since I discovered it last year. I have so many good things to say about this product. It's creamy and blends well, it lasts for a long time on the skin, it doesn't cake, it doesn't budge when you set it properly and it's very pigmented. This particular shade is what I use for concealing-highlight one my under eye area. SanSan Nail Polish in Red Gleam Last but definitely not the least, you will receive one of my favorite nail polishes of all time! Red gleam isn't red at all, it's actually a very beautiful rich pink-maroon shade that looks very luxurious on my light-medium skin tone. It's easy to apply, isn't streaky and it really affordable! So, on to the giveaway... This is open to all my Philippine based readers only. The giveaway starts today and will end on March 10, 2015. I will announce the winner on all my networking sites and the winner will be given 48 hours to contact me with her/his details. Good luck everyone and enjoy! a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Polish Nailbar Zamboanga - First (2) Impressions!

Last month, a new nail salon opened up called POLISH Nailbar. I was scheduled to leave for my Singapore trip at the time of their opening so I was only recently able to avail of some of their services...
Polish Nailbar is located on the lower level of Azenith Royale Hotel, Gov. Camins, Zamboanga City. Last year a flurry of nail salons had opened up in different areas of Zamboanga but I could never find a place that I genuinely liked and genuinely would recommend to other people... Until I went to Polish Nailbar.
I'm the kind of person who gets very concerned about cleanliness and sterility of items used on me during pedicures and manicures that's why I usually stick to my trusted "home service manicurista" that's been doing my nails for years... The downside to that is she offers no nail art services, branded polish or foot spas... So I was forced to venture out to find a place that would pass my standards... Needless to say, Polish Nailbar happens to be one of those places...

Photos grabbed from Polish Nailbar Zamboanga page.
Woman on upper right photo is Dra. Azenith (AVP) on lower left is Dra. Lala (Owner)

A wide assortment of nail polishes & nail products to choose from!

The place has a very clean vibe to it with walls painted white and purple. Purple has always been associated to royalty and that's exactly what you'll feel when you avail of their services. You'll feel 101% like a V.I.P.! I also like their big and comfortable chairs and pillows. Another perk is the complimentary drink. I always go with iced tea! My first visit to the place was for a combination of foot spa, basic pedicure, gel nails removal & basic manicure... I spent a little over P500 but it was worth it. I opted for the peppermint scrub for my foot spa. I really like the fact that the nail technicians take a lot of time to really make sure you're left with feet as soft as a baby's bum! I chose OPI's Chicago Champagne Toast for my nail color during my first visit. It was no easy task because they had A TON of different brands, colors & finishes to choose from that my head was spinning from it all. In the end I opted for a frosty pink-brown shade perfect for everyday wear. The nice thing about Polish Nailbar is that they use good quality base coat and top coats aside from the branded polish! For my second visit, which was earlier today, I availed of their footspa & basic pedicure which amounted to only P270! Not bad for service that is definitely high quality. My nail technician for today wast Ate Lheny (highly recommended if you have rough/cracked heels & ingrown nails or dry skin) and she did a terrific job with my feet. I tried out their strawberry scrub this time and I liked it for the scent but I would still choose the peppermint one over it because the peppermint one had a cooling effect.  This time I opted for a bright orange-red polish from Nature Republic. I wanted a color that would catch your attention from a mile away! *laughs!* What do you think of my color choice? Leave your comments and suggestions on what color I should paint my nails next on the comment section below! I hope all my Zamboanga based friends take time to check out this awesome place. I swear to God I'm not paid in any way to recommend Polish Nailbar to you guys. It's just that I honestly really like the place, their staff & their service! Definitely a big contender among the nail salons in Zamboanga!

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Singapore Diaries 2015 : River Safari (02/03/15)

Another water-related tourist site I visited with my family was the Singapore River Safari. The River Safari is a river-themed zoo and aquarium that is built over 12 hectares of land. It's right smack in the middle of two other counterparts - Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.
I've been to the Singapore Zoo (twice!) and don't really see the point of visiting the Night Safari (yet!) so the River Safari was definitely my choice for our next family adventure. As always, we opted to purchase tickets online to avoid the long lines at the ticket counter. Each adult ticket was priced at $23.80 which is approximately 774.41 pesos.
Enjoy the pictures! I definitely enjoyed my time at the River Safari and I feel the need to come back again! I love spots like these because they are both fun & educational. My favorites were the otters, pandas and giant sting rays! When in Singapore, please find time to check out the River Safari. Bring the entire family!

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Currently - V1

I've been seeing this kinds of posts everywhere but my first encounter was over at Ate Krissy's blog.

I find that it's a very easy way to keep my blog updated while sharing a bit of everything that's going on in my life at the moment. Needless to say, I'm very excited for my first "CURRENTLY" post. Let's get the ball rolling, shall we?

Currently...

Reading:

Cupcakes & Muffins with recipes by Spoom Plus Inc. I purchased this booklet at Kinokuniya for $5.50 when I was in Singapore last month. Its filled with fun recipes that I'm looking forward to trying out. I have my eye on the chocolate cream cheese cupcake recipe!

Writing:
Blog posts... Lots and lots of blog posts to keep me busy and help my mind focus more.

Listening To:

Smelling:
Like freshly baked double chocolate chunk cookies which I baked earlier. I sneaked a piece and can I just say, they were divine! I must bake another batch for the family soon. It's times like this that I love being a baker.

Wearing:
Comfortable pajamas and a tee shirt... I'm bumming out at home so I don't really feel the need to dress up. I know for a fact that I'm in what most people would call "pambahay".

Eating (something I added):

Myrna's Bakeshop's take on the chocolate dulce de leche cake. Moist chocolate coated with a lovely cream frosting topped with dulce de leche. Exquisite (and fattening!) mouthful after mouthful but wait! I couldn't finish it. I still have more than half left because after a few mouthfuls, it can get a bit "nakakaumay"! Boo! Does this mean my sweet tooth is falling off slowly but surely?!  

Thinking:
About what other items to add for sale because I recently opened my old online shop called Unicorn Delight. I'm also thinking about adding carrot cake to my menu for Sugar Works. I'm thinking of so may ideas that I have to make long lists of it all!

Feeling:
Anxious and I don't even know why.

Loving:
My skin because it has improved so much. I'm sharing my skincare routine soon so watch out for it. It doesn't involve any high end brands!

Wanting:
A deep body massage. Maybe a swedish one at one of the local massage places in Zamboanga. A lot of people have been encouraging me to try out Nuat Thai located at Garden Orchid Hotel. I might try it out one of these days just to see if the raves are true.

Needing:
Inspiration! For a lot of things going on in my life right now. I need inspiration to come up with fresh recipes for my baking and also meals for my grand folks. I need inspiration to write more meaningful posts on this blog other than my very enthusiastic makeup reviews. I need inspiration!!!

Wishing:
I could finally land a really stable job. Be it Philippine-based or abroad. It would be nice to finally be confident enough that I have "sweldo" every 15th & 30th of the month. If this wish comes true soon, I can finally start putting aside money for my #lifegoals ...

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Singapore Diaries 2015 : S.E.A. Aquarium (01/30/15)

My love of the water stems from the fact that I was exposed to the sea at a very early age and I am a sea farer's daughter. So imagine how excited I was to be visiting Singapore's S.E.A. Aquarium? Singapore has other "water" related tourist spots but because I didn't have the luxury of time, I picked something easy to go to and that's the S.E.A. Aquarium. A few months ago, I was only reading about the 10 photogenic marine animals at this aquarium but last January 30 I was finally able to see them all for myself! Enjoy the photos!
We purchased tickets online which cost $38/each. That is approximately P1242.08! Bring extra for souvenirs! *winks* Towards the end of the post, I shared photos of our Chilis lunch date. It's my first time to try Chilis and I absolutely fell in love with it. I definitely wish we had one in Zamboanga...

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