All the Vanity Blog :: Beauty, Fashion & Shopping

Hello dear readers!

All The Vanity & organic skin care brand Made From Earth has just something in store for you.

Made from Earth is a certified USDA organic beauty brand that includes natural, chemical and preservative-free skin care products to promote a healthy and holistic living. Their products range from face care, body care, hair & body care and lip care. Each is specifically formulated to meet your healthy skin care needs. Now, do you don’t have to fret about your skin care products having such strong, undesirable ingredients that may actually have carcinogenic or estrogenic effects which lead to various dreadful diseases like Cancer. You will never find any of these chemical ingredients in their products:

- Petrochemicals and Phthalates
- Parabens (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl)
- Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate Diazolidinyl Urea
- Cosmetic Fragrance

Click here for more info about Harmful Ingredients in Skincare Products

We offer a large selection of healthy and chemical free skin care products, including Organic Aloe Vera, Chemical Free Jojoba, Organic Lavender, Organic Honey Lotion, and Organic Green Tea Toxin Cleanser. We also offer chemical free organic face creams, which are full of potent and top-quality organic ingredients such as organic rosehips.- Made from Earth

Everyone can have a taste of such healthy & guilt-free pampering coz they ship their products globally. Now this some vanity I want to have!

One of the products to look forward to is the Three Berry Daily Organic Face Cream, which packed with organic blueberry, organic raspberry and organic cranberry. For healthy anti-wrinkle and face firming treatments, there’s Vitamin Enhanced Face Firming Serum that uses organic compound DMAE to naturally and instantly firm your face in 15 minutes after application.

Start shopping now by simply visiting their website here.

Not that I’m going on hiatus, it’s just I’ve been terribly busy for the past few weeks doing my day job, which is why I can hardly make an update. Right now, I’m feeling under the weather. And, it seems that the weather looks so ill & gloomy at the moment.

Anyhoos, nothing beats a fab prescription (or, should I say, subscription) of these two magazines I recently grabbed for the month of October. Of course, there’s Vogue and late actor Heath Ledger’s former flame Michelle Williams is on the cover. I wasn’t really planning to grab Cosmo Ph, but the baby blue color scheme drew me into getting it. Bea Alonzo is on the cover. Didn’t really super like Bea’s overall ensemble, albeit the top was kinda cute. It’s just weird having tank top and denim short shorts on the cover at this very season. On the other hand, I suggest you to leaf the travel section pages. They’re definitely worth the heed!

That’s it for now. Will bounce back soon and try to bring you some highlights on the latest Spring 2010 collection. LV, Galliano and McQueen has brought us some quirky vibes.  I still have yet to check other faboosh collections I might have missed out. Also, I still have a lot of beauty products lined up for an in-depth review.

Hope y’all feeling well! Ta-ta xx

Image from Bellasugar.com
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.

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.

Remember the mission I blogged about? Well, here’s a preview on what happened:

First of all, the mission was to be Stunning for a Steal. To make sense, we need to look gorgeous without spending a goldmine! Recession is putting a dent to our pockets and budgets these days, so we need to cut some slack off from (over)buying expensive beauty products without compromising quality. This is where these three fab products come to the picture.

*Nail Technician hand-painting my nails*

Whilst waiting for the queue to have my facial first, I decided to bypass the steps and immediately headed to the Nail Spa station, where I had my nail art done. I’ve been a great patron of Nail Spa in Shangri-la Mall since I landed my first job. This is actually my first time to pimp my manos for some nail art fun. I chose something bluish amidst my pink and red ensemble I was wearing then, since I’m a typical blouse and jeans girl–blue denim jeans to be exact.

I was surprised to see that they actually hand-painted the nails one-by-one, sans using any stencil. Wow, that’s creativity + talent going on there. The nail art tools she used actually pique my curiosity. She told me those came from US. Hmmm…

*Here’s what my nails look like after. What’s great about it is that it’s still hasn’t chipped off amidst long hours of typing.*

Then, I had a luxe facial using Garnier Light products, which promises to bring a visibly fairer and more radiant skin I can measure. It uses natural products such as pure lemon essence and long dan essence that help remove dullness and effectively diminish dark spots whilst whitening the skin. I indulged myself lying around 20 minutes of uber-relaxing facial–the massage was so relaxing that I felt like dozing off! My once tensed skin felt de-stressed thereafter. What I love more was the smell of Garnier products, they smell really, really good that I want to eat it!

*Lots of Garnier skin care products used for the facial*

After some skin pampering, I headed straight to Matrix booth to have my hair done. The hairstylist asked me how do I usually wear my hair on a typical day. I told her, I just let it alone, silky straight. With a eureka moment from her, she resolved into giving my locks some lovely curls. Okay, another Marimar moment has yet to come!

I totally love the smell of the hairspray, unlike others that smell like solvent. Surprisingly, it strongly held my locks all day long, even when I tied my hair into a bun going home.

*MUA doing makeup using Maybelline products*

Finally, here comes the makeup! I had my makeup done courtesy of Maybelline. The MUA gave me a natural look, using mostly Maybelline clear smooth mineral makeup! First, using MAC 187 brush, he gently dabbed on liquid foundation as base (which doubles as a concealer). Then, he buffed on some  powder-foundation to neutralize the color, making my base match my skin tone better. He accentuated my eyes using neutral colored eye shadows, eye liner pencil and mascara. Of course, he put some blush-on and lipstick for flushed-looking finish. (more…)

Looking back, my makeup kit (so-called kikay kit) has evolved in years. Before, it started as a tiny pouch with press powder & chapstick in it. Then, it grew up by adding liquid foundation (I used Cover Girl then), lip gloss and concealer (I used Avon concealer stick).

Back in college, I made a full switch to using VMV Hypoallergernics products: from powder-foundation down to concealer. As soon as I started working, I upgraded into using MAC Cosmetics, hence the studiofix, concealer and lots of lip glasses.

I just hate to see blemishes standing out on my face, so I stashed in Cinema Secrets Concealer to do its job.

Due to my studiofix rant (couple it with my being adverturesome when it comes to makeup), I decided to make another switch, yet again, to Shu Uemura White Recovery RX Powder-Foundation, along with its Pro Concealer.

Oh well, much has been changed. First, breakouts are finally going, going, gone (I hope this is gonna be the last time I’ll be seeing you, zits!), that’s why I don’t have to put on loads of kabuki-thick makeup. Then, I finally learned how to set my makeup to last longer (thanks to my mattifier, oil-blotting sheets and loose powder), and to practice the cardinal rule of skin care by wearing sun block everyday.

Enough gab, here’s my present kikay kit:

Starting off with my Wicked Sista makeup bag from Beauty Bar. They got pretty makeup bag designs that’s proven to be durable and waterproof. I’ve been avidly using these for almost a year. xx

Here’s what’s inside my makeup kit. I know it’s not a lot, but these are essential stuff meant for everyday use (well, at least when going out!). Products are:

Shu Uemura Sheer Colorless Loose Face Powder – Lurve this. Sets my makeup well for a smooth, flawless finish
Shu Uemura White Recovery RX Powder-Foundation in 754 - My new makeup BFF. Not too sheer, nor too heavy. It gives just-right coverage
Shu Uemura Pro Concealer in 7YR (Blendable. Perfect for Tropical Climate. I used Cinema Secrets though when I was in Belgium, coz this one was as hard as a rock! See review here)
Bloom Shadow Liner in Ebony Brown (My HG eye liner)
BeneFit Eye Shadow Duo in Fate Made me Do It (Lavender/Smoke Gray)  – I don’t really use it that often. But, this is the smallest e/s set I can stash inside my makeup bag
Lancome Virtuose Mascara – Lengthens and Defines my Lashes. See review here
Smashbox Anti Shine – Great for keeping oilies at bay. Sometimes heavy on the skin, so I don’t use it everyday. More review soon!
Chanel Lumiere Lift Concealer in Beige Lumiere – I’m a freak when it comes to anti-aging stuff. Lurve how it blends and moisturizes the skin around my eyes. Lessens its puffiness to boot. Can double as liquid foundation See review here)
MAC Slimshine Lipstick in Gaily – I don’t hafta wear lipgloss over it, coz it’s that moisturizing
MAC Lip Glass in Soft and Slow – Only if I wanted nude lips xx
MAC 3D Lip Glass in Wondershine – Has rich red color for a bolder look.
The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain – Good thing Body Shop reformulated this from liquid to gel. Use it everyday for that just-bitten, reddish lips.
Agent Provocateur Lip Balm – Not really that effective to keep lips from chapping. But, heart its cooling effect, making my pout look naturally redder xx
Diesel Fuel for Life Unlimited Sample – I just put it for the sole purpose of making my makeup bag smell good. Ha-ha!

(Not in pics: The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blotting Tissues, Neutrogena Dry Touch Ultra-Sheer SPF 50 Sunblock, Shu Uemura UV Base and Shu Uemura Curlash)

Hoping to see what’s yours soon! xx

Well, lookie lookie what landed on my desk today:

Hush, hush! Well, you see, playing detective has been one of my childhood dreams. Giddy as a child, I immediately brushed up on my case folder.

TADAH!

Hmm.. looks like playing super sleuth in this upcoming event will be fun, fun, fun! xx I’m required to come incognito, and leave gorgeous–now that’s some challenge!

Mission is to Be Stunning For a Steal with these Targets:

Facials by Garnier

Hair by Matrix

Nails by Nail Spa

Makeup by Maybelline

Gee, I’m soo excited! xx

My dog died recently . Everyone in the family has been feeling so sad until now. After 8 long years, she dearly joined our Lord up in heaven. I’m sure she’s very happy in her place right now. As of us whom she left, it’ll really take some time to completely move on from this depressed, listless state.

I, for instance, still feel sad whenever reminded about her. I sorely miss her, especially whenever I take a look at her picture. That’s why, I think for some stylish ideas in order to alleviate the sad feeling.

Have a Makeover

Admit it or not, having a makeover never fails to make us happy. It’s like having a fresh start, having something new to look forward to. One most common thing depressed people do is to give themselves a haircut. I always wonder why, of all things. But of course, it depends on what kind of ‘do you want to sport on. Great, fabulous haircuts that make you look better, surely make you feel better in return. Give your hair some oomph by adding colour and highlights to make it look more lively and vibrant.

Exercise

Remember Elle Woods defending fitness maven Brooke Taylor Windham from her murder case in the movie Legally Blonde? She [Elle] did not believe that Brooke killed her husband–all because of one thing–she exercises regularly. Remember this line: “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t”?

Surely, exercise produces this feel-good hormone that helps us keep the depression at bay. Not only it does good for our psyche, but it also makes our bodies fitter & healthier. It doesn’t require you to abruptly enroll in a pilates or yoga class. Brisk walking or jogging will do wonders.

Smile

Do this first thing in the morning, or whenever you feel sad or agitated. A simple grin works like magic, as it instantly churns your mood into something filled with much optimism. Not to mention, smiling makes you look younger and lovelier.

I’m not into splurging this month. So, I’m gonna share to you one of my practical mini-shopping sprees that actually transpired a while ago.

Nizoral Shampoo

I’m pretty much annoyed with my scalp right now. It gets flakier and itchier! I think Sunsilk shampoo is not gonna do wonders on me, that’s why I just pulled off a big switch to Nizoral–not because it could make my mane tamer and silkier. I seriously need Nizoral ‘coz my dandruff’s getting waayyy annoyingly serious!

Nizoral shampoo has 10mg Ketaconazole and is used for treatment of mild to moderate dandruff and its associated symptoms of scalp flaking, itching and scaling. It can be used twice a week for 2 to 4 weeks, but I’m meaning to use this every other day. (I wonder how my hair will look like afterwards)

Price: Php 350/ $7.47

Oh well, I’d rather follow the instructions than make it worse.

Mane ‘N Tail Shampoo

You’re gonna think I’ve gone mad using horse shampoo for my locks, but hey, a lot of people use this. Mane ‘N Tail shampoo has an exclusive original formula containing high lathering, cleansing agents fortified with moisturizers and emollients. Its micro-enriched protein formula proves “down to the skin” cleansing action and conditioning, leaving hair soft and shiny. I just bought a traveler’s pack for a try. Anyhoos, let’s see if it fairs and pairs well with my current conditioner–L’Oreal Elseve.

Price: Php 60/ $1.28

Panoxyl 4% Cream

This is my current skin saviour of the moment. Since all the flare ups and serious acne agonies are gone, I use Panoxyl as daily maintenance, in order to keep those nasty zits at bay (thanks to its Benzoyl Peroxide formula). I usually buy the gel type. But since the drugstore ran out of gels, I just took home this cream instead. Well, I surely hope Panoxyl’s cream-based product would be less drying but as effective as the gel-based one.

Price: Php 210/ $ 4.48

All Around Wipes + Lactacyd Wipes

Having all around wet wipes in your stash is a must! It’s really versatile that I could use it anywhere. It functions as a makeup remover, hand sanitizer, stain remover, desk & laptop cleaner, etc. I got one from Med Guard that has anti-bacterial properties for a hygienic, germ-free finish. Of course, femme wipes are a girl’s must-have. Nothing beats Lactacyd feminine wipes for moi.

Price: Med Guard Anti-Bacterial Wipes (30′s) Php 60/ $1.28 & Lactacyd Feminine Wipes (5′s) Php 25/ $ 0.53.

Get these at your nearest Watson’s store (SM Supermarkets nationwide).

I’ve been meaning to have my hair colored again one of these days. But, due to my busy and uptight schedule, and the fear of damaging my hair and my clothes, this idea was put onto hold for quite a while.

Upon checking Sephora, this hair coloring set loomed me. I was immediately attracted to  it–not just with its lavender-ish tones and interesting accessories included in the set. But hey, this one’s a product of Frederic Fekkai, one renowned celebrity hair dresser. And, I’d say his products surely got a lot to offer!

Frederic Fekkai Salon Color is a do-it-yourself permanent brush-on hair color that promises to deliver salon quality results.

The tried-and-true Fekkai “brush and bowl” approach allows for thorough blending and precise application. The brush-on method offers optimal control, even coverage, and excellent color adhesion—with no drips or missed strands.-Sephora.com

It’s also available in a wide range of brilliant colors. After use, hair looks healthier than before, sans any trace of grays. It also makes hair 40% shinier, silkier and softer.

Too bad, it’s not available locally. So, I’ll be asking someone from the States to buy it for moi. It might be a bit pricier for $30. But, if it swears to be drip free (meaning less mess and chances for my clothes to be stained), then I’m pretty sure this would be worth shelling out for! I’m thinking of getting a Dark Blonde, Light Golden Brown or Medium Auburn. xx

If you wanna get yours today, feel free to visit this link.