Jewelry and Cosmetics and Everything In Between.

One of the things I had been busy with the past few weeks was scouting for an additional collection or products that I will be carrying in our shop and all the trade shows. As I have blogged before, I sort of went into the cosmetics direction since I love makeup. I've been toying with the idea of trying out something new but still something fun and something I know and more importantly, love.

One thing I was sure of was carry a local brand. The brand Beauty Cosmetics is perfect. The owner, Rosenn who is just a terrific entrepreneur knows her products really well. I'm just so glad we are their first physical store.

Speaking of our shop, I have been hot and cold for years regarding dabbling with real, precious jewelry. Aside from it being such a big investment, I still wanted to keep the personal element of our service which is customizing designs.

 This opportunity came in a few weeks back just days before Mothers' day which is so fitting with the kind of jewelry we will be coming out, You'll understand once we announce them and I'm excited! Hopefully, will be able to next week.

I know, I know it seems like I have no life aside from running my little business and still being a housewife. Jewelry and cosmetics sound so glam and fun but of course, I still wade through the creative and technical side of the business. Although I must admit, loving what I do so much makes it feel just like playing sometimes.

On the topic of playing, Hunter is now a busy, very active toddler and I'm proud to say I'm still hands-on and yaya-less.

I'm posting this at six in the morning while the boys are still sleeping and the house is still quiet. I guess I should take the opportunity to get a morning cup before my little stinker wakes up. =) Looking forward to a great Sunday and Fathers' day!  Happy Fathers' day to my Papa! =*

De-clutter #1

January is all about organizing and de-cluttering. First stop is my dresser and all the make up I have accumulated the past year. I tend to hoard on make ups when I'm out of the country since my favorite ones are unavailable here and almost always the prices are jacked up online. 

After

                                      

The acrylic organizers are just all below PhP700 at National bookstore. So much cheaper compared to the ones in Muji.

They are all spread out since I'm an out-of-sight-out-of-mind kind of girl. If I don't see them, I won't be able to use them. :/

On to my next projects! =)

obsessed.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush

Organic Soaps

Lately I'm more maarte than usual, that's the only difference I noticed since I got pregnant. =) I'm enjoying dressing up and primping myself while growing bigger by the day.

Since I got pregnant I changed to using Organic soaps. More than the benefits of using something organic and helping mother earth, using organic soaps for some reason makes my baths feel more luxurious and feminine.

So now, I've been hoarding on a lot of handmade soaps. I don't really have a sensitive skin but I've noticed switching to these soaps make my skin so much softer without that tight feeling. I've researched about the difference of using commercial soaps and organic soaps and found out that commercial soaps are almost the same with detergent soaps--they only add moisturizers and scents.

I love, love, love Lush Products, although a bit pricey, I find their soaps really worth the money. The soaps don't lather well but Lush products are quite packed with the moisturizing and organic ingredients. My favorites so far are the Sultana of Soaps and one of their popluar products, Honey, I washed the Kids. This is my favorite scent ever. It didn't smell so good while I was trying it out in the Store probably because of the other strong scents mingling inside the Lush shop (you know this if you pass by any of their stores) but once you lather with this soap in the shower, it's just so amazing.

Since I got pregnant I've also been using Creamy soaps with Cocoa butter such as their Lemslip, A Ring of Roses and body scrub Sugar Babe. I also love their scrub body butters particularly the Aqua Mirabilis.

I really have to restrain myself from hoarding more soaps since organic soaps expire after some time. But once you start, it's hard to stop. It's just so addicting to try out everything! I have so many soaps in my bathroom right now, it's crazy.

After researching about local organic soap brands, I came upon the brand Embodyment. There are a lot of good local brands such as Ilog Maria. I love the Ilog Maria soaps but only get to buy these stuff when I'm in Tagaytay.
I have yet to try the Embodyment soaps that I ordered online. They all smell so yummy too.

So many soaps, so little time! These are just few of my unopened ones since most of them are now sitting in my shower. =)

On to less serious stuff: My beauty haul for the week.

I've been busy the past few days but still had to keep it light and slow down when things get a bit more frantic than usual.
Our little niece Trish (from the Yason side) stayed with us over the weekend. We had fun and Pao was actually very happy to have spent time with Trish exclusively for the first time the whole weekend.

The first few days of the week was spent tidying and rearranging things in the house, I wasn't able to write a few entries. I guess I'm nesting since most of my time right now is spent preparing the house and cleaning up. I'm becoming my mother, I'm now a neat-freak who loves to redecorate all the time.

On down days when I have no choice but to take things easy and rest, I find myself watching youtube a lot. I've noticed I've been really into make-up tutorials and watching beauty hauls that got me into buying new stuff this week that I've watched from their reviews.
I decided I'll make a mini beauty haul myself =)
Tandadadan...




As I've said in my previous post, I'm forcing myself to focus on other things (girly things) to prevent myself from researching and worrying to much. (Two things you often do when you have nothing else to do but rest!) I've been switching to organic bath products while I'm pregnant and decided to get a few things from Lush this week.




I went and got myself the Sultana of Soaps which I love, the Lemslip soap (too lemon-y for me), the Sugar Babe Sugar Body scrub (I have yet to try), the Lip Sugar scrub (a total waste of money--I could have made my own scrub), and their Imperialis face moisturizer. I've never had a break-out before and my skin is the least of my concerns but since my second month, I've broken out so much.
My skin breaking out is something new and I've never even had this when I was a teenager. I'm hoping Imperialis works out for me...so far so good.






I'm sad that I've almost finished my Mac Wonderwoman Marquise'd nude lipstick so I went out to look for a new replacement. I found two from Revlon which is from their Colorburst line. I love Revlon Colorburst line. I have 6 tubes and counting and already went through two tubes. This time, I picked up Soft Nude which speaks for itself and a new shade: Petal which I really, really love. It's a soft pink nude that works well with my warm/medium complexion.
I got a Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in Pink 180. I don't like it though as much. It's too sticky for me. The SA was just able to convince me that it would look nice with my color. I don't have a complaint with the pigment though, I just don't like the consistency.





I also got the Coralista from Benefit from my sweet H.S. schoolmate Cierre who resells make-up not available locally.

I love it! I love the brush, the scent and the shade as well as the packaging. The shade actually looked a bit bright for me in the box but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was sheer once applied on my face. It's a warm color and it gives you a healthy glow.
Another must-have is a Kabuki brush that I've been meaning to buy for the longest time, I got one from Suesh which is about 1/3 of the price of Mac brushes. I'm not new to using Suesh brushes and applicators. I have other high-end applicators and Suesh's quality is similar if not the same.

I think I got a little more than the usual this week! Beauty hauls are so much fun to watch in youtube. Be careful though because you might end up buying more than you actualy need!

I really think I'm more maarte than usual and Pao have noticed my lips are brighter than usual even inside the house hehe. I guess I'm just trying to have fun right now than just be miserable with all the nausea, morning sickness and whatnots. =)

fake lashes, real lashes, vain post

I'm still on my quest of finding the best mascara to rehabilitate my sparse, abused lashes. Months ago, I had the great idea of having eyelash extensions that made my real lashes fall off. Eyelash extension is nice for special occasions but I found out painfully (literally and figuratively) the price to pay when you are not careful like I am in maintaining your falsies.


I covet my husband's lashes. He has the longest, thickest lashes I know. Such a waste on a man, really.

During the first few days of extreme desperation seeing most of my lashes fall off, I bought a Japanese brand of eyelash grower. I'm not really sure what its brand name is but its one of those small, small tubes with a white and almost iridescent pink sheen that can only be bought online. It was ridiculously priced at PhP 1,600 for a very, very small tube of serum that lasted only days. Needless to say, I didn't really see much difference at all.

I tried using L'Oreal Renewal Lash Serum. It has a tipped wand to easily coat the thinnest and shortest strands. I use it as a base coat and somehow it helps thicken whatever mascara I'm using. I noticed my lashes got darker after a few days but length-wise, there is not much difference. Overall, it's a good buy and a good base coat without the heaviness.


Of all the things that I tried, what worked the best for me is Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara especially the original version and not the new Volumizing formula. I really noticed my lashes grow thicker and much stronger a few days after using it on its own, no base coat or lash serum.


Pardon me, I just thought about posting this utterly vain entry as I was searching this afternoon for a good eyelash grower/thickener that's locally available. I just hope they don't discontinue the Revlon Grow Luscious until I find The One. =/