The most wonderful time of the year has come and the countdown is on, which means that Christmas and festive season is just right around the corner. There's only 6 days left to go guys and I'm so excited!

This holiday season is the perfect time and yearly chance to get really all glammed and dolled up. So in today's post I'm going to be presenting you a Holiday Glow Makeup Look. When it comes to Christmas holiday, this is certainly something I get thrilled about, the red lips and the glittery and shimmery eyes. I decided to put together pictures to give you some inspirations and ideas for you to do your own makeup. This would make you look insanely gorgeous on a Christmas party, on the Christmas Eve or even on other special occasions.

Products that I used:
- Maybelline Super Stay 24H Full Coverage Foundation in Classic Ivory
- Maybelline Fit Me Matte+Poreless Pressed Powder in Classic Ivory
- Maybelline Fit Me Blush in Wine
- EB Advance Uncover 2 Eyeshadow Palette
- Detail Makeover Contour and Blush Effects (which I forgot to include in the photo)
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Concealer in Light shade
- Maybelline Master Strobing Stick in Pink
- BYS Brow Gel in 01 Brunette
- BLK Cosmetics - Intense Color Liquid Eyeshadow in The Bomb
- Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama
- Maybelline HyperSharp Power Black Eyeliner
- MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in All Fired Up



Here are some tips that you can do to make you feel a little more festive and for you to put your best foot forward on your Christmas Party:

1. Go glittery and shimmering splendid. This is a simple and easy trick to brighten up your appearance without too much hassle and effort.

2. Sweep the blush. Adding blush and highlighter to your cheeks will give you fresher and healthier look.

3. Conceal It! Correcting and hiding your dark circles, puffiness and blemishes will awaken your tired-looking eyes.

4. Stroke and Fill. Eye-lining can completely define and change the way your eyes look.

5. Brush it off. To complete your look, set it with a powder to get rid of the extra oiliness and your good to go!

So there you have it super quick, easy and effortless makeup look. Stay tuned for more awesome topics. I hope you all have an amazing and wonderful Christmas with your family and friends! :)

Fear of change? I do fear but I condition myself to willingly enclasp things to see some changes. Change can be wonderful but sometimes it can also be terrifying. Whenever I'm looking into a mirror I see a woman who is always growing and changing and would constantly torture herself with lots of "what is" and "what if" questions. A couple of months ago, I opted to chop my long hair. Don't get me wrong, it was cute and I liked it, but after a week or two, I felt that I needed to make some alterations again. 

My hair is naturally dark brown in color but I've dyed it blonde. The first time I ever got bleached my hair was about 7 years ago in a beauty salon. Over the years, I've got blonder and blonder. And for some reasons, I felt like it was becoming so boring. Keeping my hair blonde turns out to be increasingly difficult and costs an arm and a leg. I have to touch up the roots whenever my natural hair color peeks through.

I've been sporting a light colored hair for too long, I guess it's finally time to retire it and opt for something doozy. Now, I'm resorting into a DIY job. Coloring your hair at home can be a scary thing, but it's not always bad and unsafe, as long as you have a bit knowledge about it.

BEFORE 

This is what my hair looks like before dyeing. Here you can't see that the natural roots are grown out. It looks good in the picture but mind you in real life my hair is starting to look brassy. So I needed to find something that would keep my hair healthier. I finally got down to brass tacks and decided to dye it brown black.

The box contains an ammonia-free colorant, cream color developer, an after color conditioner (not on photo), the instructions and a pair of plastic gloves.

I bought mine in the shade #20 Brown Black and got this at Watsons for only 395php. Application is so simple but it will be so much easier if you have someone to assist you especially when coloring the back portion. A gentle reminder is to read the application instruction and of course know the ropes before using the product and perform an allergy skin test if you have sensitive skin.

Step 1 : Mix the colorant and the cream color developer. Shake vigorously until the mixture is completely blended and mixed well.
Step 2 : Apply color. Apply mixture on hair and not on scalp. Comb until it is evenly distributed and sets on hair.
Step 3 : Set timer. Leave it on for 25 minutes. Additional 5 minutes for grey hair.
Step 4 : Rinse hair thoroughly with the after color conditioner.

AFTER

What I love about this product:
- It's ammonia-free.
- My hair looks healthy after coloring.
- It evened out my hair color.
- It's very easy and convenient to use.
- Very affordable. Got it for only 395php at Watsons and it comes with a free Revlon Lip Stain.

What I didn't like about this product:
- It starts to fade after several washes.
- It stains clothes.
- It leaves your hair a bit drying.

Don't be afraid of change. You'll regret chances just because you were afraid of something new. So don't hate change; learn to embrace it! Thank you so much for swinging by. Hope you enjoyed reading this product review and see you on my next blog post! :)

The Fit Me Collection by Maybelline New York which consists of Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder, Fit Me Blush, and the Fit Me Concealer has been raved and praised by so many beauty gurus both here and abroad for its long lasting coverage and reasonable cost. I have heard about this makeup collection countless times but never thought much about it since it's not available locally. Not until Maybelline brought these products here in the Philippines, that's when I gave in to the hype. I've decided  to give it a try and discern if these products deserve all the praises its getting and to see what it really delivers.

Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation is a lightweight foundation that mattifies, refines the pores and leaves a natural, seamless finish that is never flat or cakey. I have visible pores that's why this product really caught my attention. This is ideal for normal to oily skin.

What I love about this product:

- great coverage

- it adds matte finish to the foundation

- it has good oil control

- long lasting

- natural, poreless looking finish

- does not clog pores

- can be worn alone

- the packaging, it has a compact mirror on it and it comes with a sponge

- worth the price, got this for 399php

I usually pair this product with my Fit Me Foundation and my skin stays shine-free all day. It doesn't cake and crack even on a hot weather and took me a few touch ups within the day. So far so good.

A lot of beauty bloggers and vloggers raved about this concealer, got so curious and immediately grabbed and tested this out, and without any uncertainty, this is one of the best drugstore concealer I have ever tried. It amazingly covers my acne scars, dark under eye circles and blemishes and doesn't gave me that feeling of having a dense makeup.

Fit Me Blush is a lightweight powder that delivers natural all-day color. Blendable and natural yet noticeable blush, wears evenly and enhances skin tone with a radiant glow. Long lasting blush ideal for pale skin, dark skin and every tone in between.

I got the "Wine" shade. This is a reddish pink in color, fairly pigmented giving your cheeks a nice rosy flush with a satin finish that looks almost natural glow.

Overall, I absolutely loveeee this blush. It looks good on my skin and it stays well. The shimmers will help you achieve that glowing complexion. And it makes my cheek pop - looking so fresh and bright. I super highly recommend this product. This could be a great everyday shade for women with light skin tone.

Final Thoughts?

I have this love-hate relationship with my hair. There are days when it's like I'm on a shampoo commercial and feeling always primed to carry on the day. And there are days when my hair gets totally dry, brittle and greasy and becomes a precipitate of negative vibes on me.

They say that women with longer hair are apparently hotter than women with short hair. And for the longest time I kept my hair long. The type of hair that flows into the wind on a bright breezy day and to be honest, I've never considered cutting it short. I don't know, but, somehow it made me feel more beautiful and confident. It became my protective curtain and my shield. It was what I'm used to and for me it was what's "attractive". Not until one day when I was checking my Instagram, I noticed that most of the female celebrities here in the Philippines were opting for shorter hair. It made me realized, I wanted change and just jump on the bandwagon. There are even times that I used to test my husband how he would react to me hinting at chopping off my hair for the reason that I was worried it would make me feel less attractive to him. (HAHAHA!)

At first, I was terrified and used to just sitting on the fence about making the big chop on my hair. I have been contemplating for the longest time and eventually got the courage to do it, fearless, no post traumatic shock and with no remorse even when I saw my most cherished long locks on the ground after cutting it off. If you ask me what I felt after, I would say it felt better, felt lighter and I even felt younger.

So far, I'm loving it and just to let you guys know, my husband loves it, too!

So why did I choose to cut my hair? Alright, I kinda love the look and felt I needed a change, something fresh and new. Cutting it shorter allowed me to "wake-up-later" and get some additional minutes of sleep. There's no need to worry about the time consuming of blow drying and styling. It's so much easy to deal with. Another reason is that it dries so much quicker than when it was long plus I started using less shampoo and conditioner. Yes, with shorter hair you can save money too! :)

But then again, at the end of the day, it was just hair. Your hairstyle doesn't define you; you define who you are.

My lappy is on the verge of dying right now and it's literally the calm before the storm in here. Cold wind commences to blow. But on an optimistic note, I'm enjoying the cold weather inasmuch as it's making me feel a lot like Christmas holidays already! Anyhow, I'd rather get everything done now before the typhoon arrives.

So, for today's post, I will be sharing you the bag that I oh so fell in love with; the famous rattan bag. I started seeing these bags on fashion influencers' posts way back 2017. Fell in love the first moment I saw it and found it as a super cute accessory that can amazingly and instantly turn any of your OOTDs look fab and chic. I am the type of person who loves bags, and considered this to be listed on my bag wishlist. I was lucky enough to have this trendy bag as a gift souvenir from my Mom's workmate during her Bali, Indonesia trip. :)

These rattan roundie bags are beautifully handcrafted and became so popular, they are everywhere! It is something that you can always carry around because they go so well with any outfits, may it be formal, casual, paired with a gingham skirt or style it with your denim shorts together with your favorite shirt and sandals or in a vintaged-inspired way. You really can't go wrong with this bag.

Unexpectedly, my photos came out so well notwithstanding the difficulties of getting the perfect lighting and struggles with posing. A big shout out to my husband for bringing out the model side of me. HAHA!

For all you bag lovers out there, what do you think about this trend? Share your views. I would love to know how you style your rattan bags! :)

I must confess, this morning I found myself gazing at this blank screen and couldn't ponder of any ideas to write about. I am watching the movie "Meet the Fockers" and laughing about a million silly things with my husband while on a video call as I write this down. Multitasking at its finest!

Alright, so this is going to be an outfit slash fashion slash style post. I can freely say that the tendency of my thought, based on observation, that majority of us love fashion. We love experimenting the old styles to the new trends. Fashion somehow reveals a part of our personalities just before we say our first "Hi" and "Hello".

I'll be honest with you, I love scrolling and exploring through those ootd posts online and make them my outfit inspirations. I love fashion, I love clothes, I love changing styles, I like putting effort into my outfits, mix-matching them and, okay, I am sooooo in love with denims. That denim trend that never goes out of style. Denims are actually pretty easy to pull off. You can look great without even trying too hard - pair it with a simple shirt and you're good to go. The beauty of denim is that it's super versatile to pair up with almost everything, very durable, wearable and will forever be a big part of our wardrobes.

Here's a video showing on how I wear and style them. Hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed filming it! :)

Today I spent my energy on little beautiful things. Bonded with my mom. Ate ice cream. Plus, took a stroll with her together with my big brother around the city. While we're on a shop, we came across this cutie eyebrow stencil thingy. And for fun, we have decided to purchase it and give it a try.

I'm pretty sure, most girls know this phrase "kilay is life". The eyes maybe the windows to our soul, but the eyebrows are the fancy curtains that frames those beautiful windows. Admit it or not, eyebrows play a vital role in every persons look. It can make or break your face. Even without makeup on, you still look put-together just by having brows that are well-trimmed and well-shaped. But gone are the days when people used tweezers and eyebrow waxing for shaping because today, everyone is suddenly going gaga over microblading their eyebrows in order to achieve that "I-woke-up-like-this!" look.

Also, these days, people often remark on how good your makeup just by observing at your brows. With the right shape of your eyebrows, it will instantly brighten your appearance and can make you look fresh and more youthful. For me, I like doing my eyebrows myself so that I can get them how I want them to be. And after literally years and years of practicing and experimenting, I finally mastered (I think, haha!) the art and technique of shaping and whipping these beloved brows of mine.

There are thousands of eyebrow products to choose from - we've got eyebrow pencils, powders, gels, waxes or pomades. But my holy grail product is the Etude House Drawing Eyebrow Pencil.  It has a flat, slanted tip on one end and a spoolie brush on the other end. Easy to use and travel friendly, plus very affordable. If you are a novice when it comes to doing your brows, I strongly recommend this product. You can get this pencil for only 178Php at any Etude House Stores.

Btw, here's a video of me doing an eyebrow tutorial. I really hope I could help you guys, especially those who are having the most difficult time doing their eyebrows! :)

Everyone wants to achieve a flawless, glowing skin. But unfortunately, not all of us are blessed to have a perfect, unmarked, unblemished and youthful skin.

With the food we eat, the products we often used and the lifestyle we choose nowadays, these factors can trigger and contribute to having clogged pores, wrinkles, breakouts and pimples.

Practice and build a good skincare routine and look after your skin everyday. Achieving and maintaining clear skin commences with the effort that you put into it. Be mindful of the fact that having clear skin can't be achieved overnight, it requires a lot of work in order to be effective.

Here are five tips that will ensure you to achieve that beautiful skin.

1. Water Is Life

Drinking a lot of water is the oldest trick and beauty tool in the beauty book. It is the world's most overstated tip in a skincare routine and this really does wonders for your skin. Water removes the toxins and waste products from your body which causes skin problems and breakouts, thereby cleansing it and keeps your skin fresh and hydrated.

2. The Golden Rule

Removing your makeup should be a part of your skincare ritual. Sleeping with your makeup on is a major no-no and is bad for your skin. In view of the fact that cosmetics can contribute to skin problems such as irritation, clogged pores and acne breakouts that can make your skin look so dull. These days, we spend so much money on makeup products that are long-wearing and difficult to remove. Then why not also invest for the best makeup remover, right?

3. Diet Plan

"You are what you eat". A good and healthy skin is not a natural gift. But to get a radiant and glowing skin from the inside, one must get underway of their diet plan. The key to having a great skin is good nutrition. Your body reflects your diet. So, you need to focus on eating fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, foods rich in vitamins and include enough carbohydrates and protein that will help you build and repair muscles. Also, have a low sugar diet allowing the cells to maintain a healthy balance, giving you a clearer and healthy looking skin and preventing it from aging.

4. Let's Sweat It Out!

Staying active and doing exercise regularly can lead you to having a healthy skin. It doesn't just boost your overall health but can also have great advantage on your skin as well. When your heart pumps from exercise, your skin starts producing more of its natural oils, helping the skin look healthier and moisturized.

5.Beauty Sleep

When it comes to beauty regimen, sleep may be the nearest thing to the so called fountain of youth. When you are sleep-deprived, your body produces more of the stress hormone, thus, affecting the quality of your skin. When the stress hormone increases, the chances are having inflammatory skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis or eczema and acne. The secret is to get about 7-9 hours of sleep.  As we sleep, our body heals and restores our skin from daily damage. Catching a healthy amount of sleep will help recharge your skin, leaving you with a glowing complexion.