A peek into my first passion

Hey y'all! What are you up to this weekend? Well, Holy week is about to start here in the Philippines and of course for most of us, the loooong vacation! But before anything else, take time out first to reflect over the holiday okay? And right on that cue, I'd like to share with you guys my first passion above all else - MUSIC.
Yup, the universal language. For me, this has always been an outlet for my emotions. I find, I transpire them better through singing. My mom was my biggest fan. I remember when I was 5 yrs. old, she would take me to a neighbor's house just so I could practice my singing because we did not own a decent karaoke machine that would play those multiplex or minus one tapes. So I owe her a lot! :D

On this post, I just want to share with you guys my cover of a great Joan Osborne song entitled "One of Us" that can be found at the link below (Bangge is a nickname my relatives gave me :D)

One of Us - Angeli's cover


Have a great lenten season everyone!


Till then,

My HG Facial cleanser (one of them): Mario Badescu Botanical Facial Gel

Price: Php 745.00 8oz. bottle (Rustans Essences)
USD $12.00 8oz. bottle (www.mariobadescu.com)

From Mario Badescu website:

BENEFITS:

A refreshing oil controlling cleanser. This non-soap, non-foaming, gel cleanser is deep cleansing and refreshing for oily skin. Removes make-up, dirt and oil thoroughly without over drying skin. Exfoliating Alpha Hydroxy formula helps prevent build-up that can cause blackheads and pimples.

INGREDIENTS: Deionized Water,Glycerin,Carbomer,Trithanolamine,Methylparaben,Botanical Extract,Germall

I've never given facial cleansers much attention before. I used to think it didn't matter and had put more importance on the facial creams and such. All those years  I've been breaking out, I blamed it all on the hormones and adolescence. Nothing I did stopped the constant skin dilemma until I tried Mario Badescu's facial cleansers and tried a little tenderness :)

Back then, I was addicted to cleansers with beads or micro-beads thinking it's doing my skin good. What I didn't know is that it's actually hurting me aggravating those pimples more. If you have acne, I advise you to stay away from facial scrubs and choose the gentlest cleansers you can afford. Also, use a light hand when you're washing your face otherwise, you'll be doing the same thing and make your condition worse. 

The good great people from Mario Badescu was so nice to let me try this particular cleanser when I asked them for several product recommendations for my skin problem. I have to admit, the first time I used this I was not much of a fan. It wasn't the usual cleanser I was accustomed to that lathers up. In fact, I ended up using too much product to compensate for the "cleansed" feeling bubbles bring. I continued to use it anyways as an alternate to my MB Glycolic Foaming Cleanser (which I love, btw).

After almost a month of constant usage, I started to see positive improvements. I had less frequent breakouts and my skin greatly improved. I just bought my second bottle and this now, along with the Glycolic Foaming Cleanser, is a permanent staple in my routine. What I also love about Mario Badescu is the ingredients list of their products which is very simple and minimal.

Now, I'm left with my other foe - dark spots (a completely different story! Haha..)

Till then,

Just In: Nyx Stay Matte Not Flat Liquid Foundation

Gloomy hump day ladies! Now, we all know that out of all the cosmetics we own, probably the most crucial is the foundation. It is the ultimate deal maker or breaker of the whole look. I've always favored liquid foundation above all due to the fact that I live in a humid country and I tend to sweat easily so every now and then I'd wipe my forehead or the side of my face with my trustee handkerchief. Now, if I'd do that  with cream foundation on, chances are, my handkerchief would be wearing all my makeup at the end of the day! :D 

My ultimate criteria in buying liquid foundation is that it has to have, if not a matte finish, at least semi-matte. It also has to have great coverage without having to feel heavy when worn. If it is smudge-proof and oil-free I'm sold! That is why I'm a fan of MUFE products. But then again, they are so expensive and at this economy, I'm all for saving as much money as I can.

This is my first time trying out anything from Nyx. I've been eyeing to try their lipsticks in the past because of all the great reviews and the fact that it is so affordable. But every time I'm about to, friends would sometimes give me new lipsticks to try and of course, I felt guilty of getting new ones without using those first.  Though, foundation is another issue. I can't get enough of them! So when I saw this on Digital Traincase, I just can't pass it up. I bought shades 02 Nude and 05 Soft Beige.

Price: Php 450 (35g) at Digital Traincase (4 shades available so far)

                    USD $ 7.50 at www.nyxcosmetics.com (15 shades available)

• Oil Free
• Water based
• Full Coverage
• Mineral Enriched
• Matte Finish

According to the Nyx cosmetic website:

"New Stay Matte But Not Flat Liquid Foundation provides full coverage of mineral enriched matte finish.            The oil-free and water-based formula is perfect for in the studio or all day long! "

INGREDIENTS: 

Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane , Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Beeswax, Cyclopentasiloxane / Disteardimonium Hectorite / Propylene Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate / Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone / Hexyl Laurate, Glyceryl Laurate, Stearyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Phenoxyethanol / Methylparaben / Ethylparaben / Butylparaben / Propylparaben / Isobutylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate. MAY CONTAIN: Titanium Dioxide  (CI 77891), Iron Oxide Yellow (CI 77492), Iron Oxide Red (CI 77491), Iron Oxide Black (CI 77499)

The packaging is definitely a plus since it is in tube form (less product contamination) as opposed to jars.

Here are the swatches of both shades compared side by side to my other foundations and concealers. Taken without flash to show you the most accurate I can get to the actual color. As you can see, Nude has a more yellow undertone than that of Soft Beige which is a bit on the peachy-pink side. To give you a better idea, I applied Nude on one side of my face. 

bare face with spider veins and post acne marks

with Nyx SMNF in 02 Nude

 I applied one coat then went over a second for the more prominent marks. Not bad! It also feels light on the skin. You could skip the finishing powder if you want a slightly dewy look but I personally prefer a light dusting of powder over the top. I had to use oil blotting papers for a while since this won't totally save you from an oil slick all throughout the day. but for the price, not bad, not bad at all! 

Have you tried this new Nyx foundation? How did it fare for you?

Till then,