All the Vanity Blog :: Beauty, Fashion & Shopping

Let’s take a break from our Fall 2009 recap with this lovely new beauty product from Lancome. xx

Finally, a French makeup brand that understands Asian skin! Lancome recently develop its new powder-foundation that promises to suit Asian skintypes like mine–Lancome Maquicake UV Infinite Powder-Foundation. Its unique light-as-air and anti-sweat formulation help skin breathe amidst the tropical country’s  scorching heat and humidity. It promises to provide buildable coverage as fine as a veil silk for a just flawless finish.  And of course,  this powder is just also perfect to stash in this blazing heat of Summer!

Light as Air~!

This innovative formula containing soft-focus fillers (Synthetic Mica) to conceal irregularities and imperfections, and coated spherical fillers for a gentle perfect fit sensation-Lancome

Sweat-Proof Formula

Maquicake UV Infinité prevents your perspiration and sebum to “shine”, thus minimizing the need to for “touch-ups” throughout the day–a must for many Asian women when looking for the ideal compact foundation.-Lancome

Plus, it’s packed with SPF 20/PA++ to help your skin protect against sun’s harmful UV rays, as well as keeping your skin from dark spots and discolorations.

Price is at Php 1,795/ US$ 55

Looks like someone had it reviewed at Makeup Alley. Hmmm… now, it beckons me to try it out soon!

For Philippine residents, it’s currently available at the ff malls: Lancôme Paris, 1/f Greenbelt 5, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La Tower, Rustan’s Alabang, Marionnaud Mall of Asia

It’s been more than a year since I had my hair rebonded. And so, my locks are now starting to get unkempt, in a not-so-good way. It could have been tolerable should I own a Meg Ryan short ‘do, but I have been sporting a long hairdo since college. It’s been a pain in the ass managing one yet again I’ve got no choice (countless brush strokes, countless minutes of deep conditioning, etc), lest I’d end up looking like a smelly hag had I left my hair alone then.

Good thing, I recently discover Matrix, which really seems promising. Though I only tried its hairspray, I’m so amazed that it didn’t leave me reeking with ammonia-like smell at all! I also love its strong hold on my curls. And, I swear that getting one is definitely worth every penny. And speaking of the price, Matrix is surefire friendly on your pocket.

Matrix has a straightening treatment called Matix Opti.Straight. It’s a conditioning straightener that promises to give your crowning glory a soft, silky and straight finish sans fly-aways. Hair is manageable and healthy-looking.

It’s Opti.Straight’s Multi-Ionic technology that delivers top-class condition straightening. It’s got customized strengths to optimally enhance any hair type and an Asian Tea Fragrance which neutralizes the ammonia odor and gives you an uplifting aromatic experience even during the treatment itself.-Matrix

Sounds pretty much interesting, eh? I, myself, am giddy to try it out! But I guess, I’m gonna try to give my long locks a new color first, using So.Color Beauty coloring service. Hmm…I’m thinking of going brunette for a change. Maybe, my Frederic Fekkai lusting would put onto hold. xx (more…)

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.

Now that summer’s officially over—at least due to the humidity we have been experiencing since the onset of May, have an option to turn your skin into its rosy white state. Good thing, L’Oreal Paris Dermo-Expertise introduces its newest product: L’Oreal White Perfect Radiance Boosting Double Essence.

Clearly, this is not your ordinary whitening potion. By way of whitening, L’Oreal White Perfect Radiance Boosting Double Essence promises a healthy pinkish glow. Thanks to its Tourmaline gemstone, as it helps stimulating skin’s microcirculation, giving you intense radiance and rosy glow. So, bid farewell to those whitening products that make you look fairer, yet look lifeless, livid and paler. This product boasts its Advanced Melano-Block, that acts to regulate skin’s melanin production right at its source, and Pro-Radiance Complex (potent combination of Lactic and Glycolic Acids), that helps to exfoliate darkened surfaced dead skin cells charged with excess melanin. All of these actively boosts your skin’s transparency,  making it less yellowish in appearance.

The dual pump houses two essences that work perfectly for anti-dark zones and pro-rosy transparency.

An association of 2 textures: one creamy white essence and one watery rosy essence that melt together to bring immediate comfort to the skin with a fresh feeling upon application.-L’Oreal Paris

(more…)

Lancome is bringing another fountain of youth to its thriving skincare arsenal–the Lancome Genifique Youth Activator. After a decade of research & production, this anti-aging potion has been perfected to target skin right through the core–the skin’s DNA! It mainly promises to revive the genes’ activity and stimulate the production of youth proteins. It is the first skin care product to claim working directly on the genes.

Our Research Laboratories have identified a protein profile specific to young skin. Using our in vitro reconstructed skin model, we have been able to demonstrate that the concentrated innovative active substances in the Génifique formulation relaunch the activity of certain genes, thereby boosting synthesis of the proteins that typify young skin. In this model, the skin recovers the profile of youth after 6 hours.-Lancome

Furthermore, This is Lancome has to say: (more…)

A picture says a thousand words. So, check out the newest fab eye lash collections from Shu Uemura Tokyo Lash Bar coming this June 2009.

*Eye lash “fabulosities” at mega different hues and styles*

*Wickedly mesmerizing Ice Queen!*

(more…)

At last, here comes the sun! Now’s our chance to free ourselves from all the layers of clothing and makeup, and finally don those skin-revealing bikinis and bare-faced skin whilst embracing its glorious rays.  Of course, you won’t be caught dead sans wearing a sun block that ensheaths  your skin from the  damaging UV rays, lest you’ll end up like a burnt mud pudding!

So here’s one to try from Shu Uemura. Shu Uemura launches its UV Armor High Proctection Sun Protector Face Cream that promises to serve as your armor against those ominous UV rays, leaving your skin radiantly looking all the day long–minus the stinging burns! UV rays are one of the major culprits of premature aging, so wearing this face sun block saves yourself from double-trouble!

It’s currently available into two variants, oomphed with much SPF power to withstand those UV rays as long as it could. Choose one from SPF 30 and SPF 50, whichever suits your skin better. Just a tip: the higher the SPF, the greasier it gets but the longer you can stay on the sun, and vice versa.

Of course, touring Belgium won’t be complete without shopping! So, I got myself these cutesy lil’ pieces from Dark Dudes in Bozzy, a gift shop found in the streets of Antwerp.

This actually reminds me of the cute, cuddly yet dark characters of Happy Tree Friends. Obviously, it won me aesthetically. It’s very affordable to boot. Each only costs € 2.35 (about $ 3.10), so grabbing a piece or two won’t hurt my skimpy pocket.

So there, I had an eyeshadow duo in baby pink and purple, enclosed in a tiny metal-like canister that’s really, really handy. I also had this blackberry flavored lipgloss in rose that comes with a cute bear charm (which also doubles as a phone charm[!])

I haven’t tried them yet, but I’m so giddy to finally open and give ‘em a swipe. It may not be as good as MAC, Smashbox or Bobbi Brown, but surely it’s worth a fab collector’s item.

People today are somewhat fretting over aging. Nobody wants to look old, nor these nasty wrinkles start to appear. Getting a clear, youthful skin, of course, start from the inside out.

The Inside

Regular intake of fruits and vegetables really help in slowing down the aging process. Many claim that tomatoes help a lot in making your skin glow and look youthful.  Thanks to its lycopene, a pigment normally found in red fruits, that has both antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Antioxidants prevent aging-causing components from further damaging our skin. It also helps battling out other bodily toxins that can cause cancer and other grave diseases.

Avoid smoking. Smoking produces harmful toxins that hastens our aging process.

Most importantly, always take time to smile. Frowning gives our skin more stress to it, which can cause premature wrinkles in return. Plus, having a sunny disposition in life makes as feel better and younger!

The Outside

Sadly, pollutants in our environment as well as the harmful ultraviolet rays take a toll in our skin. They make our skin look tired and old. That’s why, it is highly recommended to religiously practice a skin care mantra. Protect your skin by means of a daily skin regimen with anti-aging properties that suits your skin type perfectly. This serves as our armament to keep those harmful skin pollutants at bay. It is basically composed of the following: cleanser, toner and moisturizer.

One to try

Cleanser

Have a smoother, brighter and more refined skin with L’Oreal Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser. It nourishes your skin while gently exfoliating and removing all traces of dirt and makeup.

Price: about $9

Toner

L’Oreal Derma Genesis Toner has Pro-Xylane and Hyaluronic Acid that help create new cells as well as fight against wrinkles for visibly younger looking skin.

Price: Php 360/about $7

Moisturizer

Moisturize your skin during the day with L’Oreal Revitalift Day Cream that comes in a pump bottle [to get the right amount of product with ease]. It has Pro-Retinol A that stimulates skin regeneration, visibly reducing wrinkles. It’s also enriched with Elastin that makes skin firmer and more elastic.  Do not worry exposing yourself to the sun, as it also belts a Skin Protection Factor (SPF) of 18 that fight against harmful UV rays that triggers premature aging.

Price: Php740/about $15

(For Derma Genesis Toner & Revitalift Day Cream SPF18) Available nationwide at SM Department Stores and Watsons Beauty Stores, PCX, The Landmark, Robinson’s Department Stores, Shopwise, Mercury Drug Stores, Gaisano Metro Department Stores*

*Ph Stores

Chanel is truly an epitome of all things posh. And so, I have always drooled for Chanel 2.55 bag, which is famous for its quilted lambskin structured leather with a lavish golden chain handles.

Take this Chanel Baby Pink Flap Bag for instance, which is a part of Chanel’s 2009 Cruise Collection. I always have my love for subdued pink hues, and this one really caught my attention! Next to Hermes Birkin, I’m so eying to get one of these gorgeous, sophisticated babies in the future. Oh well, the hefty price tag, however, is something to sigh for. Most Chanel 2.55 bags cost around a whopping $2,000. Truly, my parents (not to mention, my pocket ) will kill me should I get one of these soon!

Oh well, oh well. Since I couldn’t afford a lovely piece of Chanel quilted purse as of the moment, I recently snagged this oh-so-luxurious concealer from Chanel. Chanel Lift Lumiere Concealer, a smoothing and rejuvenating eye concealer, works perfectly as an eye-caring liquid concealer to revive my dark, tired eyes. It makes my peepers look bright and alive. Well, thanks to its ingredient, Tetrapeptide, that targets the fluid responsible for building up under the eyes and making them look tired. I don’t even worry skipping my Awake Eye Serums.

Moreover, it functions well as an all-over face makeup as it blends easily and evenly on the skin. In my case, I use it as a blemish concealer, camouflaging those sightly blemishes with its sheer-to-medium coverage. It doesn’t cake or streak, and works fine with oily skin types (like mine). Just remember to put the liquid concealer first before set it with powder!

It currently has 3 colors: Beige Lumiere, Rose Lumiere and Apricot Lumiere. I got mine in Beige Lumiere that works best with my yellow undertones. Get a 15ml for Php 2,650 (or $45) that comes with its signature Chanel bottle [with pump inside].

P.S. I also have Exceptionnel de Chanel Mascara and Rouge Hydrabase Satin Lipstick. OMG, I’m so loving all the lipstick hues. Reviews soon!