Thursday, July 25, 2013

Makeup DUPES...

So here's a confession...
I am a label whore when it comes to my brands lol.. #Guilty.... specially when it came to my makeup, bags, shoes....ok ok I digress, this is about makeup dupes lol... I was one of those who can be inside a MAC store, Ulta or Sephora for hours and have made a point to make it to any product launch events and private sales. Although, over the last few years, I have picked up some really good quality drugstore makeup that are a definite contender to some of my high end brands.

I have also seen a ton of dupes online and have posted them on my pinterest so I tried not to add them on this post to avoid redundancy :) [Feel free to browse through my Dupes board]
As I peruse through my vanity and kits to attempt to organize them (#Failed lol), I was distracted with how many dupes I have to sort through and compile my dupes of my high end and my economical drugstore brands.

Most of these Dupes are from  my Summer Collection. Prices are an estimated msrp so please check your local drug/beauty store for actual price.


What dupes have you found?
Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :)  


SPLURGE:
UD 24/7 Glide On Pencil $19
Makeup Forever Aqua Cream $23
DUPE:
Maybelline Color Tattoo $6.99
 SPLURGE:
MAC Paint Pot $18.50

DUPE:
Maybelline Color Tattoo $6.99
 SPLURGE:
Anastasia Brow Duo $23

DUPE:
Milani Brow Kit $7.99











SPLURGE:
MUFE Full Cover Concealer $32
MUFE HD Foundation $42

DUPE:
Physicians Formula Concealer $9.79
Revlon Photoready Foundation $14



 SPLURGE:
Smashbox Contour Palette $45
MUFE Sculpting Kit $48

DUPE:
Sleek Contour Kit $8.49 (UK/Online only)
Alternative dupes:
NYX Matte Bronzer $8.99
Rimmel Natural Bronzer $5.69
Physicians Form. Mosaic $11.99


SPLURGE:
MUFE Aqua Shadow $20

DUPE:
Rimmel Scandaleyes $4.49
Milani Shadoweyez $6.99
SPLURGE:
MUFE Artist Intense $20
MAC Lipsticks $15
Chanel Rouge $36

DUPE:
Covergirl Lipstick $7.99
Rimmel Lasting Finish $5.49
Milani Lipstick $5.69

You can pretty much use whatever lip gloss you prefer that matches your lipstick.


SPLURGE:
Givenchy Phenomenon Eyes $30
MUFE Lenghtening Mascara $23

DUPE:
Essence Volume Mascara $4.99
Loreal Telescopic Mascara $9.99
SPLURGE:
MUFE All Mat Primer $47
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer $36

DUPE:
Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer $7.29
Revlon Photoready Primer $12.99
SPLURGE:
MUFE Uplight $29
Mac Strobe Cream $15 (travel size)
                               $31(Full size)

DUPE:
Loreal Magic Lumi $12.99










-Blessings, PF

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Autumn Trend Alert.... UK Edition....

As the 2013 Paris | Milan | London Fashion Week dissipates into oblivion, It definitely has left it's mark as the precedence of what's to trend in the year's Autumn season looks.
This Summer's transition to Autumn shouldn't be too complicated since it's just a tad bit muted or amplified from Summer's look.
  • Bare Face\Natural Makeup
  • Bushy Brows
  • Nude\Neon\Red\Purple\Dark Lips
  • Winged\Black Eye Liner
  • Smokey Eyes\Bright Shadows
  • Highlighted Cheeks
  • Ghostly Look
Here are "some" wearable trend [from the runway to the streets] pics I have browsed from the intranet...
PARIS FASHION WEEK
Bare Face ~ Bushy Brows ~ Nude\Neon Lips ~ Winged Eye Liner ~ Smokey Eyes
 

MILAN FASHION WEEK
Natural Makeup ~ Bright Eye Shadows ~ Smokey Eyes ~ Purple\Red\Nude Lips ~ Highlighted Cheekbones
fashion-week-fendi-backstage
  
LONDON FASHION WEEK
Red\Dark Lipstick ~ Black Eye Liner ~ Ghostly Look
 


What looks are you going to rock? Do you have any favorite look? Eyes, Lips,Colors? Which ones are your least fave?

 Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :) 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Primer-less Foundation Routine worth trying this Summer!

Apply moisturizer on cleansed skin, wait for a few minutes and allow the skin to absorb the moisturizer thoroughly.
Reach for that big fluffy brush and dusts a super-light layer translucent powder all over the face and lets it sit for several minutes.
Apply concealer, foundation and proceed with the rest of your makeup :) (I still use my eye primer for my eye shadows to stick to and avoid creasing though)
**For those who have enlarged pores or fine lines, apply your primer in those areas only.

Will you try this tip?
Feel free to comment your results, other foundation or skin perfecting tip for the summer if you have any :)
Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :) 
-Blessings, PF


Saturday, July 20, 2013

Completely OFF topic but a necessary read....Family

This is where I distinguish my traditional and cultural upbringings vs society driven upbringings...
completely off topic from the blog's "supposed" contents but I felt compelled to share a little insight of my personal life with MY family...

So typically, after a loooong week of hard labor for all the adults in my family, we always strive to  find a way to spend time and connect with the rest of the cousins, brothers, sisters and extended family doing whatever that involves quality time together, whether it's bike riding, fishing, picnic, and 9 times out of 10, it ALWAYS involves a friendly poker game for the guys at the end of the day at somebody's house.

I love and enjoy seeing my cousins but more so seeing my nieces and nephews <3 <3 <3 :) and anyone who knows me, knows that they are MY life and would DO anything and everything that I am physically capable of for them. And I have had my moments of guilt when I catch my self preaching to them about responsibilities and my experience growing up and I have, a couple of times, reached a conclusion that what I have preached may have been going in one ear and out the other and probably sounding like blah blah blah to them (who hasn't gone through it lol, heck I was guilty of that growing up so who am I to think that it doesn't apply to these millennium kids right?!?!?) anyway, I digress..... So tonight, the kids decided to spend the night with auntie ME and the parents were I'm sure thinking, can she (ME) handle all 5 (really?!?!? I know I am the only auntie without a child but ummm I think being the oldest sister of 4 and an auntie to many, I have had plenty of experience in assisting my mom and sis and friends (yeah yeah yeah it's not the same) in raising their children and yes, auntie P loves the kids :) so yeah getting back on track, I preceded to clean the kitchen as it was piled with dishes from the night's dinner and poker game mess, I was NOT expecting to receive any help from the kids as they have been busy with playing games all night and to my oh so surprised delight, without asking....my nieces Deanna and Leeza, started helping me with bringing all the dishes from the dining table, living room and putting the trash where it needs to..
I thought to my self, "THEY DO LISTEN!" (insert Santa+M&M candy Christmas commercial here lol) [Proud of my family for raising respectful, obedient, helpful and brats at times nieces and nephews]
Anyhow, what I am trying to relay time and time again is, DO NOT underestimate the power of your child's absorption for knowledge and training. YOU are your child's FIRST teacher and whatever you instill in your child's brain is permanent, They may act like they are NOT listening or may act like a petulant 2 year old at the moment upon receiving the lesson, but believe me, once they have calmed down and have had enough time to digest what you have told them it is there forever, Key is consistency. I for one was raised traditionally, with much leeway ;-) (idk what happened along the way JK) and was constantly preached and taught the value of family, responsibility and respect and have been challenged along the way with a plethora of life experiences, but EVERYTHING that has been instilled in my head since day one has remained and guess what, to this day, I still can't fathom disrespecting my parents in any form and when I have raised my voice at my mom, I feel like a complete *&#^ head and can't rest at night until I somehow make amends and apologize to her for raising an octave higher than normal voice at her and then do ANYTHING she asks me to lol. (don't judge me :-/ you should see my brother when he does it lol) I have yet raise my voice to my dad lol (ummm yeah I would not want that silent treatment lol)
Okay, enough about my family, I want to know yours.

What are your childhood memories/upbringings that you may have/want instilled to your children, nieces, nephews that other parents/aunts/uncles may pick up and teach theirs?

Comment below with your experiences and/or share for others to participate :)

-Blessings, PF

Friday, July 19, 2013

Glow-geous MEEEEE Time :)

As much as I enjoy a spa trip and pamper at my fave spas… There are some in between spa trip treatment that you can do in your own shower, just not as relaxing or spoiling but it is definitely less expensive than a 300 spa trip. Here are some of my luxurious summer treatments I do given the time :) This treatment usually allows me to skip the moisturizing after shower/bath, specially when it is hot and the lotion just makes me a lil sticky :-/ so without further adieu….

Oil hair over night (optional) (I usually don't wash my hair every day specially when I get them colored. The night before I wash my hair, I oil it overnight)  
30-60 minutes prior to showering, add your favorite hair mask to your well-oiled hair and wrap it with a hair cap, wait... (this is your down time to do anything you need to do while waiting, check email, eat breakfast, go on Facebook lol, or prep your shower with the following if you don't already have them in your shower room..)
  • dry hand towel -wash cloth/puff 
  • fave shampoo and conditioner (I have a few faves but I am currently loving this Moroccan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner, they smell yummy) 
  • fave body scrub (preferably with oil based sugar/salt scrub, I use bath and body works' aromatherapy sugar scrubs (sleep with lavender and vanilla and energy with lemon scent and sensual with jasmine and vanilla are some of my faves) and The body shop's Spa Fit Smoothing refining body scrub you can create your own with brown sugar, sea salt, Vit E oil and olive oil)
  • fave body wash (I usually just go for the bath and body works' creamy body wash or Dove's creamy replenishing body wash) 
  • pumice (I use the Mr. Pumice which is really good and the body shop has the softer version for my cuticles) 
  • fave face wash (I love the neutrogena stress control acne scrub or the Aveeno brightening scrub for the shower and philosophy's purity made simple on the days that my skin is feeling a lil dry) 
  • hair claw/tie 

Let's shower :)

Once in the shower, wet hair and massage scalp. Shampoo hair twice and towel dry with hand towel…(I normally turn the shower off at this point to save water, totally optional)
Deposit a generous amount of conditioner to the hair and secure it with the hair claw/tie. Grab that fave body scrub. (I have soooo many options in my shower and one of my fave are the oil based ones as it really helps in moisturizing my skin and the oil aroma just soaks into the skin and lingers all day so it is very important that you choose a scent that you enjoy :))
Scrub from neck down to the tip of your toe :) concentrating on your elbow, knees or areas that are usually dry and scaly (yikes)
***I usually skip the next step in the colder season when my skin has the propensity to be dry.
Pour generous amount of moisturizing body wash in a puff or washcloth, (I prefer a cream based like the dove moisture cream body wash or B&BW's creamy body wash) Lather full body.
Allow the mixture of the scrub and body wash to marinade in your skin for a few minutes. While waiting, grab the pumice (I use a multi grade, soft and medium roughness pumice) and pumice away heels, bottom of the foot and with the soft side, gently scrub off the edges of your cuticles, both hands and feet. This process makes your heels and feet super soft and minimizes callus build up and sometimes it allows you to skip that extra charge for callus remover at the nail salon, ;)
Turn on shower, (at this time I usually rinse off my hair first with the colder temp that first comes out of the shower) squeeze the excess water from hair and put it up away from your face and body with the hair claw/tie, and then rinse the rest of your body.
Finally, with the hair up in a claw, grab your fave face wash, (my in-shower facial cleanser is the neutrogena acne control scrub, I extend this down to my neck and shoulders)
Rinse and dry off…..
Oh please clean up after yourself and scrub off the tub as a courtesy to the next person stepping in the shower as it may be a lil slippery from the oil scrub's residue.

 ***Optional process…. while still in the bathroom, Lather skin with moisturizing lotion while it's still damp, the dampness provides the perfect vehicle for lotion deliverance to skin and will keep your skin super silky smooth, (this is usually my process after bath/shower but when I do my sugar/salt oil scrub, I usually skip this as the moisturizing emollient of the oil from my scrub is enough to keep me moisturized all day and I don't want to cover the scent of the oil on my skin)
***Bonus Tip:
Upon exiting shower, before doing anything else.. Apply your favorite serum/moisturizer and sunscreen and proceed with your after shower/bath routine.. This process allows your moisturizer to be absorbed into your skin creating a barrier prior to adding the rest of your cosmetic products

I know this process sounds a bit extensive, but it really is not specially once you experience the result, I'm sure you wouldn't mind spending 30-45 minutes in the shower and you can skip some of the process as you please if it's too much:) I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of my ME time in the shower (lol, pause) and feel free to send me any feedback or comments pertaining to this article. Happy Glowing :)

Disclaimer: All products have been purchased and not sponsored from any of the brands mentioned.

Juicers vs Blenders

So here's MY personal opinion with these two apparatus,
I've tried them both and a huge fan of BOTH [I'm sure you have seen some of my FB and Instagram postings :)] and have their own advantages and disadvantages, and in terms of taste, I think you would enjoy more with the blender since it allows you to add other ingredients that can enrich the taste of the fresh fruits and/or vegetables, which I love mixing by the way, but..... Breaking down the Pro's and Con's I have decided to stick to the Magic Bullet mini blender, (At least until I can get the Nutri-Bullet, which is pretty much a combination of both machines, why didn't I think of this?!?!? lol anyway, pardon the digression) So back to the topic at hand...why the magic bullet???
Because....
  • It has the perfect serving of your choice every time with multiple cup sizes that comes with the package
  • Easy clean up, Definitely easier than the juicer.
  • No wasted nutrients, juice has a quicker absorption through the bloodstream, but I actually like the addition of fiber in my diet so why waste it :)
  • You can create a plethora of fruits and veggies smoothies that are yummily delish as well as loaded with nutrition and antioxidant. Well, you can actually get these from the juicer as well so I guess this one is a toss up :)
Which one would you prefer? Or what are you using?
Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :) 



What I want :)





Thursday, July 18, 2013

Do you apply foundation and then concealer? Or do you apply concealer and then foundation?

This has got to be theeeee most frequently asked question I have received time and time again...And the answer......
-It is YOUR personal preference....Do what works for you

Here's my take on this... Determine how much coverage you would like to have first [sheer, medium, full] then pick your poison or in this case, choose from what type of foundation and concealer you may have in your arsenal and let's get to covering....

If you happen to be blessed with a blemish free skin and just need to even out your skin tone, or just want a sheer coverage, the Concealer and then Foundation Technique, begin with a prepped base with a primer for a smooth finish. Dab concealer on to areas that need a little camouflaging and blend edges seamlessly in to the skin. Then apply foundation very sparingly from the center of the face outwards. Set with a sheer coat of powder mainly on the T-zone.

 For a full coverage or those who needs a little extra camouflaging, the Foundation and then Concealer Technique is for you. Again, begin with a full prepped canvas. Moisturize prior to applying foundation and wait a few minutes for it to sink in, then follow with thin coat of primer. Apply foundation and make sure the foundation has set before applying concealer over it to prevent it from smearing or moving when you apply the concealer. Dab your concealer on to areas that need extra coverage and blend using a tapping motion with your ring finger. This ensures that the concealer doesn’t look cakey once blended. Finish with lightly dusting a setting powder over your face with a Duo fiber brush or press (NOT rub) with a powder puff for a more matte finish.

How do you apply yours? Feel free to add to this techniques via a comment below :) -Blessings! PF
Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :)  





Monday, July 15, 2013

Skin Care Obssessions...Summer Edition

So I am starting to feel the heat of this year's summer season and it is also time to adjust skin care regimen and product hunt suited for my combination skin...

Here are my current faves ranging from drugstore to department store brands.

Cleansers:
  • All year favorite is the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control cleanser
  • Another year round cleanser on my counter is the Garnier Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelettes, I have tried a plethora of cleansing wipes and every single one of them stings my eyes, until I tried this so I love it and will definitely keep it in stock.
  • Gel cleanser is definitely a staple in the summer time for me so I usually reach for my Avelene Diacneal No soap gel cleanser when I'm doing a peel/mask or  Cetaphil Oil Control Foam Wash alternating with Aveeno Positively Radiant scrub to remove makeup/oil residue of the day's event. 
Now, I don't have acneic skin but I use these products more as a preventative measure from breaking out :)

Toners:
  • I have been a loyal fan of the Obagi NuDerm toner (really, I am a fan of their full NuDerm line) 
  • This summer I have been trying out different skin care and cosmetic products and a couple of the "trials" I really adore are the Ole Henricksen's Grease Relief toner alternating it with The Bodyshop Tea Tree Toner 
 Serums/Moisturizers
These products I use after the cleansing and toning process religiously... Starting with my day time products...
  • Ole Henricksen Truth Serum is an amazing serum that seems to help with my sun spots and just makes my skin super supple and soft.
  • I usually wait a couple of minutes and then use either my Ole Henricksen Sheer Transformation and/or Neutrogena Skin ID Moisturizer if I am wearing makeup or Olay Pro X clear UV moisturizer  if I'm just lounging around the house, another good alternative that I have been trying lately is the Garnier Skin renew Gel hydrating lotion, hydrating and light weight.
  • My weekly masks varies depending on what skin problem I may be tackling, My summer mask options are usually a toss up between Glam Glow Tingling and Exfoliating Mud Mask, amazing mask specially after a heavy makeup wear week , Bocia's Black Mask, this peel off mask will extract whatever leftover gunk from your skin/pores after exfoliating and finally the  Olay Professional ProX Clear sulfur mask for when those pesky pimples decide to pop up.
  • Night time products.... Used sparingly when needed is my  Avene Retinal 0.1 cream for my forehead area (yes, the lines are starting to show lol, too much frowning lol). Night time staple is  Ole Henricksen Enlighten Me serum and Elemis Absolute Eye Mask and finishing with Ole Henricksen Invigorating Night Gel 
Yes I am definitely loving Ole Henricksen products this summer and my skin is looking more even toned from using it so, so far so good :) well, I think it's a combination of using all these products :)

So what are your Summer Obsessions?
Please comment with your thoughts below or email with any queries, don't forget to socialize with me on twitter, instagram and facebook ......sharing is beauty-ful :)