All the Vanity Blog :: Beauty, Fashion & Shopping

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I was deeply contemplating earlier what to post on this blog. Then, after a few reads from here and there, I stumbled upon Cosmetics Database website, which lists majority of the beauty products sold today in the market and their corresponding hazard weight based on a 10-point grade scale (0 being the least hazard and 10 being the most).

To my surprise deep astonishment, some of the products I used got a flat out 7-10 on the hazard weight scale. What’s more shocking and disturbing is that products that claim “all-natural” or “organic” got at least 3 and up on the scale.

For sure, you’re largely dependent on how the product suits your skin needs. But, knowing what lies on the  ingredients included in it might make you think twice–consider Formaldehyde (and its derivatives) as a case example.

The Real Deal with Ingredients

Discovery’s Planet Green listed some cosmetic ingredients and their adverse effects in human health. As mentioned earlier, Formaldehyde (Formalin in layman’s terms) is a preservative and disinfectant used in embalming process or product preservation for better, longer shelf-life. (Over)exposure could lead to disastrous effects such as Cancer.

In 2007, the European Union bans the use of it for embalming. The Netherlands, in  particular, bans the use of it for textile products. California bans Formaldehyde-based toilet chemicals.

Paraben is a preservative commonly found in almost any beauty products available. It has some common derivatives such as methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, isoparaben, and more. It seems like an innocuous ingredient, yet is highly suspected to also promote the risk of getting Cancer. It can mimic estrogen hormones, which other studies claim that it plays a role in the development of breast cancer and urogenital abnormalities. Of course, it doesn’t mean you’re in big trouble having estrogen hormones. It’s naturally found in females. But, overdosing yourself (inadvertently or not) with such hormone is another story.

Others may have allergens that could trigger reactions in your body–from light to fatal.

What to do then?

Before immersing yourself into mass hysteria and mindlessly throwing your beauty arsenal directly into the bin, consider these options:

• Investigate. It won’t hurt doing more research on the suspected hazardous product you’re currently up to. Look at product reviews and testimonials. I suggest MakeupAlley.com for less biased reviews.  Also, there could be medical articles available online and offline, discussing the product or the active ingredient present. Doing an extensive study can basically “sort things out” and help you decide whether it’s worth the ditch or not.

• Ask Your Doctor. Seek professional help. Your doctor, or dermatologist for that matter, will help your way to the path of product enlightenment. Ask how the ingredients will affect you. His/her recommendation surely helps.

• Ask Yourself. Nothing beats asking yourself if the product’s worth the keep. Is it really necessary? Won’t you be complete without it? For a beauty junkie like me, there are so many products stashed inside my drawer that I don’t religiously use. In the end, I just have to throw them away, or give it to someone else who’s willing to try it out.  Of course, if I found it hazardous, I might as well throw it away than risk someone getting a serious disease. To sum it all up, if you’re willing to let go of it, then do so.

Curious about your favorite products safety factor? Visit http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ to know product’s hazard scale.

P.S. Workshop in Podium today is postponed. Kindly visit SOFA Manila’s Multiply Page for updates regarding their free fashion workshop events -August 1, 2009

School of Fashion and Arts (SOFA) Manila is currently having its free fashion workshop courses for this month ’til August! I might be a lil’ bit late sharing you such fab details, since workshops in Shangri-la Mall already ended, but you can still save these dates for Eastwood and Podium malls!

Check out Eastwood Mall Atrium from July 24-25 , as they’re gonna be having the workshop starting 2pm ’til 6.

I’m not sure if its  a” double date” for Podium, but you can check Podium Atrium this August 1st, also from 2-6pm.

Workshops include: Fashion Design, Basic Draping, Beading and Embellishment, Fashion Styling and more!

Of course, I won’t be missing Eastwood Mall this Friday and Saturday! I’m quite eying for the Fashion Design short course. xx

P.S. It is a MUST to come on time, since they’re gonna be offering slots on first-come-first-serve basis the last time I checked the tarp.

This is not really for-kids-only soap, as you’re gonna surely like the delectable honey scent of this soap from one of my favorite bath and body brands, Lush. It’s really smells like honey, you’d actually think of getting a bite should you not know that it’s really a soap!

Lush Honey I Washed The Kids soap really has a catchy name, with its catchy beehive packaging.

Imagine pulling the comb straight out of the hive, slathering that divine honey all over, then being showered by a delicate spring rain. Honey I Washed The Kids handmade soap calms sore, sensitive epidermis with a rich aloe vera lather and leaves skin silky smooth and deliciously satiated. Slight hints of bergamot and orange lift your spirit and lull you into an intoxicating honey bliss.-Lush

This is one of Lush’s best-sellers, so I didn’t mind getting a bar or two. Though the scent, unfortunately, didn’t stay on my skin that long (scent was gone as soon as it’s washed off), the bar IMO has a dual purpose. The rough, darker part of the soap that looks like a hive works exactly as an exfoliator, sloughing off those dirt and dead skin cells from my body. It’s a nice, everyday body soap for me.

Great thing, there’s an available solid perfume version of this one, and it’s vegan! xx

Fin’lly I’m back on track, and just wanna share a quick review to you on my recent beauty find: Maybelline Volum’Express Cat Eyes Mascara.

I haven’t really done cat-eyes on my peepers. Quite honestly, I don’t have a time to pull off such look. But, I’ve always wondered how my eyes would look like with it. I know many Hollywood stars are going ga-ga with this look. So, it won’t hurt for me to try it out.   Good thing, I have this mascara on my beauty armament.

I’ll definitely try the cat-eyes look on me in the future, and of course, to share to you!

Anyways, I did some testing on this Maybelline mascara with bare eyes (meaning no mascara or eyeshadow). So let’s have a quick look on what this mascara claims:

Maybelline Volum’ Express Hypercurl Cat Eyes Mascara has spiky comb that sculpts every lash, giving an instant 5x boost of volume and a 75-degree lift for wide-eyed curls and wild volume. The curl-lock formula holds curls for 18-hours giving a long-lasting and waterproof wear that does not clump. Using the easy Cat Eyes Mascara applicator and combing the outer lashes to create a glamorous fan effect – outer lashes are longer than inner lashes and giving you gorgeously feline eyes. The result—purr-fect, sexy, glamorous lashes that’s sure to attract any prey.

Putting Maybelline Volum’Express Cat Eyes Mascara to the Test

So, I give it one heck of a try. I believe I should’ve done a before and after pics (maybe next time I will!). Hence, please see the “after” pics below:

So, the mascara really lengthens my lashes literally into great heights, whilst visually volumizing them! Notice that it appears thicker in the first pic, and longer on the second. I really, really love it! I think one application is enough, though you could go swipe it twice to notice more remarkable results–especially in terms of volume!

The downside, it’s really, really prone to buildup whilst application. So better get these eyelash brushes ready to nix the clump and buildup. Luckily, it dries fast, so never fret about the clumping after. It’s not really of washable type, but can easily be removed by makeup removers or cleansing oils (I use Shu Uemura cleasing oil). Another is, it’s only available in black.

I tried wearing this all day long, and I really notice that it lasts and stays long throughout the rest of the day! xx

Of course, the price is definitely affordable at Php 429/ about $ 9. It’s one mascara must-have!

I’ve been a great fan of Mario Badescu way back in college with its buffering lotion. I remember the pink drying lotion being featured in now-defunct Seventeen Mag here in the Philippines, so I never hesitated to try it asap. And then, I made a perfect switch to buffering lotion as soon as I found it really, really effective in nixing those nasty cystic pimples away!

Now, Mario Badescu has something new to offer that could actually be a great addition to anyone’s skin care regimen.

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum is something to look forward to, as it contains 7.5% Ascorbic Acid (Medical term for Vit C) that effectively reduces discoloration, thus brightening the skin. It’s also packed with hyaluronic acid to moisturize the skin, and collagen to improve skin’s firmness and elasticity. Just a few drops of this potent solution every other night, and voila, expect skin to be noticeably radiant after religious use.

I haven’t tried it myself yet, and would be very much happy to grab a bottle and luxuriate my skin with it soon! Price is a bit hefty though, as it costs $45 for a small bottle.

As promised on my Chanel Lumiere Lift Concealer Review, here’s another review on Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Creme Lipstick. xx

I got a sampler of Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Creme Lipstick, which proves to be really moisturizing giving me a dramatic look with every hue. It has this creamy, emollient consistency that easily glides on with every swipe.

Unlike other more tinged, matte lipsticks, it leaves a sorta-translucent, sparkly satin  finish. So, you may require putting on a tinted lip conditioner or primer first before lavishly swiping this sweet, rose-scented lipstick . Never fret on the shine, ‘coz for me, it just gives a perfect lustrous finish. Overall, I really, really like it. The smell is soo addicting to boot!

The Swatches

I currently have the 2009 Printemps Collection which consists of four beautiful hues: rose rebelle (rose berry hue with a bit of shimmer), fuego (subdued red-orange  hue), beige desire (neutral brown hue with golden shimmer) and gipsy scarlet (crimson reddish hue) .

Pardon for the blurry pics!

Here are the swatches:

*Chanel Rouge Hydrabase  Swatches without Flash: (L-R) Rose Rebelle, Fuego, Beige Desire, Gipsy Scarlet*

*Swatches with flash*

When worn

*Chanel Rouge Hydrabase in 158 Rose Rebelle*

*Chanel Rouge Hydrabase in 166 Fuego*

*Chanel Rouge Hydrabase in 168 Beige Desire*

*Chanel Rouge Hydrabase in 170 Gipsy Scarlet*

So ladies, what are your thoughts? xx

Madonna, once again graced the cameras as she poses for another Louis Vuitton Campaign Ad, along with designer Marc Jacobs and photographer Steven Meisel.

*Madonna for Fall 2009/Winter 2010 Louis Vuitton Collection*

The ad pictures have been leaked months ago,  showing a different look for Madge with a dim-lit classic vibe and high-contrast colors. It almost looks like 3D to me. But, so much for alleged over-photoshopping, as it ended up really damn gorgeous. No wonder LV is not the only one who’s pleased.

What’s more to love is this certain monogram handbag Madonna’s holding below. The sparkling golden monogram accent beautifully printed on the impeccably sophisticated contrast of dark-brown leather really catches much attention. It’s like revivifying the cult classic into something marketable and contemporary.

But hey, the same classic feel goes to her last year’s Louis Vuitton Campaign Ad here. Colors are subdued and less vivid though.

This 50-year-old vixen could still pull off a half-split like this:

*No wonder yoga does wonders. *

So, which of Madonna’s ads do you prefer? xx