NOVEMBER FAVORITES

It's time for the monthly favorites. I'm loving the weather right now here in the UAE, chilly in the morning and in the evening.. feels like Christmas is so..sooo...near! but before I get more excited with the Christmas let me just show you guys what I had been loving this past November.

Beauty Favorites 

1. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation - I bought this foundation in Sephora a month ago and I had been using it everyday since then because I love how it gives my skin a glow specially when my skin looks so very very very tired. It's a very natural looking foundation almost like a perfect second skin. However this foundation is a bit sheer so you need to cover some spots with concealers if you have some to cover up.

2. MAC Lipstick in Creme cup - I have avoided and ignored this lipstick for so long because it was a bit brighter and lighter for my skin tone so I know it won't suit me. So when I went to MAC and give this lipstick a try surprisingly it complements my skin tone and even gives my look a hint of glow. So I'm using this lipstick everyday and I feel like sometimes it's easier to wear a lipstick on cooler months that gives your skin a icy cool look but some days when I want to be daring I a opt for darker lips.

3. MAC Mineralized Skin Finish - Since I had been using the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation I changed to my MAC Mineralized Skin Finish that's a hair darker than my skin so my skin will still look warmer instead of being pale. And I almost forget how much I love this product since I switched to MAC Careblend. But this Mineralized Skin Finish and the Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua together is awesome.Gives you a very natural healthy skin.

4. Bareminerals Eye shadow Quad in The Truth - I remember last year at this time of the year I also been using this a lot. It's more of like a wintery make up because it's darker like how I wear my eye makeup during cooler months. This make up is one of my go to eye shadow palette because the shades are very neutral and flexible. Sometimes for a quick makeup I just put a  bronze color base and use any brown on this palette all over my lids and along my lash line then few coats of mascara and that's it. If you haven't tried this palette you should because it's worth every penny and the pigmentation and texture is insane.

5. Elf Blush in Berry Merry - Yup I'm going for a more darker shades of pink now because it's nice to wear darker blushes too on the winter to get off the pale look. I often grab Gingerly from MAC or a darker pink but right now this Berry Merry is what I had been reaching a lot. Plus it has a blue undertone that glows on your skin and gives you a cooler look.. that's what I think.

6. Essie Nail polish in Hot Choco - Shades of brown again. I bought this nail polish a long time ago and haven't tried it yet. So when I was picking up a color on my drawer for nail polishes I realized that I haven't used it so I picked it and give it a try and it was like an escape for my Glamour Purse, so lovely. I think I should try Red and Pink soon.

7. Lancome Miracle Perfume - This is one of my seldom used perfume because I like it only on winter because I feel like this scent was a bit heavy specially if you applied too much. So I limit my spray to at least 4-6 sprays or else I'll change my clothes. My technique to avoid over spraying heavy scent perfume, I transfer some on my Travelo so I will be reminded that I need to apply less than the usual.

Non Beauty Favorites

1. Bath and Body Works Candle in Tis the Season - How I had been loving Christmas Scents is insane! I like a scent of spicy and warm on the house. It gives me comfort and reminds me of my family back home. I love this scent seriously it wasn't like those candles that when you burn it, it will take time for you to smell the scent it produce...this one once you lit it you will smell it after few seconds which I think will keep the candle for burning faster.

2. Hunger Games Trilogy - Yes I just finished the books and yes just now because I don't know why the Hunger Games movie, the first one, was not very appealing to me. But when I watched the Catching fire I'm convinced that I have to read the book so I did... and I'm glad I did. I'm now looking forward for the Mocking Jay movie.

3. Star Dance Album by Selena Gomez - I had been listening to this whenever I want to start my day in a cheerful mood because the beat and the music gives you a nice energy that will absolutely make you wanna dance. My husband whenever he sits with me on the car or I will drive him somewhere once I turn on my sound he will say "Selena again??"..that's how much I love her album plus it's very catchy and easy to follow.

So that's what I had been loving this month and I will be posting a review on the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation soon and some haul I did last week.

OCTOBER FAVORITES

Hello everyone! 

I'm back for my monthly favorites. As you have notice I skipped last month's favorites basically because I was so busy with the moving and most of my things are still packed on the boxes. So the things I used last August are still the same things I used last month. So without further rumbling here is my October favorites!

1. Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation - This foundation I got from my August Glambox and since then I had been using it everyday and I will buy this once I emptied the sample. The finish is so lovely and very smooth it makes you're skin looks so awake and bright because it has a light diffusing properties. It's just so amazing! I'm impressed from the very first time i tried this and I'm still impressed everytime I applied it. 

2. Burts Bee Lipbalm in Mango - I discovered this lipbalm during our
trip in Hong Kong and from then on I haven't used any other lipbalm aside from this one. My father even sent me a pack of the lipbalm that I think will last me for a long time since this brand is not available in UAE. I already emptied my Grapefruit and now this is the one I'm using. Keep's my lips hydrated all the time.

3. Nars Laguna Bronzer - I had been in love with this bronzer before and when I discovered my NYC bonzer I forgot about this. Then when I was arranging all my makeup on my drawer I saw this and started using it again and then I realized why I love this bronzer. It just gives you enough color to your face and just frames your face so well without looking too much. Bronzer was a genius product but bit tricky to use (in my opinion) specially if you haven't tried it before, you might get the wrong shade and will make you look like an oompa so better check with a consultant first before buying one. I think I can skip blush but not bronzer.

4. Maybelline Color tatoo in Tough as Taupe - If you haven't tied color tatoo you have to try it! It's a great product that will change you're eye makeup routine for sure! This products makes you're eye make up stay all day. It comes on a different color that for sure will match what eye make up you want. Right now im into this shade sometimes I use it alone or if I have some more time I put some shadows on top of it.

5. MAC Mineralized Eyeshadow in Earthy - This eyeshadow perfectly matched the Tough as Taupe so this comes along with it. Unfortunately this was broke during the moving so it was so painful because I love this color and I have to use it before everything turns out into a powder now.

6. Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara - This was just a free item I got when I purchased some lipsticks in Rimmel. At first I though this is not good because the formula was a bit dry compared to my usual mascara. However my lashes was so long and was sot clumpy at all when I use it. I was now thinking that a drier formula is better than a wet formula. Hmmm... but this is an item that i will repurchase for sure even if this is just free.

7. Essie nail polish in Glamour purse - This is my all time autumn/winter kind of color. Last year all throughout winter I use this nail polish. I started using it after my birthday, one morning as I let my dog out I started to feel chilly and I said it's time for Glamour purse so that weekend I went to my nail salon and ask them for the Glamour Purse.

8. MAC Lipstick in Blankety - I'm in the mood for some nude lipstick this month and I pull this out from my drawer and just started wearing it again. This was disgustingly melted because I left it in my car while picking up some letters from the post office. Nevertheless it's still a good nude lipstick and one of my all time favorite shade from MAC.

Non Beauty Favorites

1.  Yankee candles in Blissful Autumn  - I had been enjoying this scent a lot specially at night when i'm ready for bed. It's just so relaxing. I'm bad explaining about  scents but this definitely smells like spices. And I love spicy scents during winter time because it smells like Christmas and it brings happiness to my heart.

2. Pink Ablum The truth about Love - I had been playing this over and over again. Whenever I clean the house I listen to this turning the volume up and also while I'm driving. Her music was phenomenal who doesn't like Pink anyways! But this is the best album she released, by far.

3. Grace Helbig - She's a youtuber also known as Daily Grace she's very funny and very entertaining. My husband likes her so much that he call her "bayiiiieeee" which she always say when she's ending her videos. She's very pretty and with a humor like that who will never like her! Check her out, she's uploading videos everyday! prepare to laugh!

4. Dragonvale - My favorite app for this month was this dragon! A friend of mine who will not be named as Rodel was so into this game that I was so intrigued and now I'm addicted. That it can make me stay late and woke up early just to see what egg I got from breeding 2 dragons. Switching to dragonvale and Youtube was nice!

Hope you guys have a lovely day and check Daily Grace so you can laugh with me!

10 SUMMER FAVORITES 2013

I'm a big Summer gal before that's why I got married last April which is the summer time in our country! and yes I said "before" because things had changed a bit when I started living in Abu Dhabi as much as possible I'm avoiding sun and humidity because Summer in UAE is can be a bit extreme and I can only enjoy the sun and the beach by the month of October which is like fall in the other country. Things I love about summer is the fun colors, refreshing drinks and scents, ocean and vacation. Summer is fun and I'm starting to miss summertime in the Philippines now :(

I wanted to share with you the things that I had been constantly using during this summer.

1. The Body Shop Body Butter in Mango
 I was so used to body butters specially the one's from Body Shop I just grown using them my favorites was the Japanese Cherry Blossoms which they discontinued now and that really frustrates me. This mango scent was so summery and fresh and just yummy and so perfect for summer. The thing about body butters that I like is it really hydrates your skin so well compared to a body lotion.

2. Bath and Body Works Candles in Peach and Bahama Fizz 
 Since I tried this candles last December my husband and I loved it so much that he was so into it when choosing a scent. So when we run out of candles we went to grab some and he chose these scents. It's very refreshing and sometimes when I lit the candles and start filling up the house I feel like I'm on a vacation in a very nice beach.

3. Burt's Bees Refreshing Lip balm in Pink Grapefruit 
 I already talked about this Lipbalm on my June favorites. This really keeps your lips hydrated and I can't stop applying it. It's just so addictive. So to keep your lips hydrated during this season and you want a summer feel to it.. try this one.

4. Pastel Color Nail Polishes
 I love pastel this season. I think it started because of my wedding since our theme is Spring and Summer. I started exploring pastel colors last April and my first one was the Mint Candy Apple and I just loved it. Usually my husband doesn't care about what color my nails are but he did complemented it and I though this might really work for me so I started choosing pastel colors and now I have 5 of them :)

5. Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossoms Fragrance Mist
This scent of all the Body Shop scents this is my ULTIMATE favorite and please..please..please... Body Shop stop discontinuing items that I love! During summer I often change perfume scents I prefer a more calm scents than a musky-vanilla-amber scents which I love when the weather starts getting cold. I prefer the calm and a bit floraly scents because it makes me feel so relax. With the heat and the sun mixed with sweat I wanted to smell fresh and soft. I have a perfume which was a summer scent from Issey Miyake its a Summer Edition that perfume really is a very heavy scent for me it's very floral every time I wear it I feel heavy, but I love the scent it's just that I can't wear it during Summer even if it's a Summer Edition.

6. Leggings
Leggings is a must for me during Summer aside from  the fact that you can't wear summer shorts here an alternative for that is a long skirt or a leggings and
since I don't wear skirts... so leggings is the only choice. Because of it's cotton texture and thinness I prefer this rather than jeans or jeggings. Just have a loose shirt or top then a good pair of leggings and you're good to go.

7. Loose tops
I love loose shirts this season. It's very comfortable to wear and easy to style. Just layer it with a tight racer back or spaghetti strap and that's it. It's my go to style right now.

8. Cream Blush 
I prefer cream blushes during hot weather. Since I'm not using a lot of make up I just put tinted moisturizer or a concealer to even out my skin and then mascara cream blush and a lipstick and that's it. I don't like the routine of getting a brush for application, I want the easiest way as possible. I find that cream blushes makes my skin a bit glowing that it won't require a highlighter any more. I also don't like the feeling of melted makeup on your face mixed with sweat.

9. Evian Facial Water Spray
Whenever I feel like my face had been stretched out and the moisture on my face evaporated instantly.. this is the answer for my thirsty face. I spay it all over my face and it gives you a very refreshing feel to it. I also used this whenever I go to the beach after a swim or staying under the sun. This really gives the moisture back to your face and the good this is.. it's just water.

10. Ray-Ban Aviator 
Trusty sun glasses is a must. I dark lenses is what I prefer during summer since it was so bright outside and my eyes can't handle being exposed to a very bright condition. Whenever I forgot to wear sunglasses for sure I'll be getting a migraine in a few minutes. It's also good for you to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays from the sun.

Have a wonderful Summer guys!!! Don't forget to protect your skin  :)

NAIL COLOR OF THE WEEK: ESSIE BIKINI SO TEENY

Essie nail polish is my most loved of all! so when I do my nails on a salon and saw some interesting color I can't resist but buy. I don't do well when it comes to nail polish application like seriously I prefer someone doing my nails than me because It will end up with cuts and wounds.  

This spring and summer I had been a huge fan of pastel nail colors because it look so young and fresh and very girly though neon are so in this year I just don't like neons at all or let's just say I prefer pastel than neons. I didn't saw this color before we started with my nails but when i was about to pay i saw this on their shelf so i grab one to try. When the nail polish on my hands start chipping i replaced it with this color.

It's a periwinkle blue color, very very pretty. It has a silver sparkle but almost unrecognizable on your nails but if you look at it on the bottle you can see it. This nail color is part of  essie's summer 2012 collection, so maybe some of you already know this.

I find that the formulation was a bit hard to work with because it sometimes leave uneven application when you're dragging it and trying to spread the color on your nails. You need to work a little bit more. You can do a 3 coat application because 2 is still a bit patchy. I love the color that I wanted it to work out. This nail polish cost 45dhs at Nail Art in Al Whada Mall so if you're looking for Essie nail polish you can grab it there. 

Application : 5

Color : 9

Value : 7

MARCH FAVORITES

I haven’t done favorites for a long time because I had been juggling my time between work, wedding and being a wife. I’ll blog some details about my wedding soon :) for now I want to share with you some products that I had been frequently using for the whole month of march.

1. RIMMEL STAY MATTE FACE POWDER - I saw this from Tanya Burr a youtube guru and she kept on saying that this powder is so good. I had been using MAC’s careblend powder for years now since it was released 2 years ago so I’m a bit hesitant for trying something new product specially to replace something that I love for years. So one day when I was doing some shopping I decided to grab some Rimmel Products and I grab this powder. I had been using it for a month now and it was so damn good. My face stays matte for the whole day compared to my MAC careblend. So I’m giving a thumbs up for this product plus I saved more than half of the price of my usual powder.

2. RIMMEL KATE MOSS LIPSTICK in 08 - I had been using this product almost everyday for about 2 months now. It’s a perfect shade if you want to pull up a nude pink lip for an everyday look. It has a creamy texture and a bit moisturizing on the lips not drying. The smell is good compared to some Rimmel lip products. I’m planning to try few more shades but as of now this is my go to everyday lip color.

3. UD NAKED BASIC PALETTE - I love Naked Palette whenever Urban decay is releasing some products from the line of Naked. I’m so on the hype of getting it. Unfortunately UD release the products few months late here in the UAE so im purchasing it online. With it’s very basic colors what I do is put a cream color base on my lids and top it with colors from the palette and define it with the dark colors. It’s more convenient to use it and throw it on your make up bag instead of carrying different shades of eye shadows. It’s perfect for day to night look.

4. MAYBELLINE METALLIC COLOR TATOO in INKED IN PINK - I love Maybelline line of color tatoos. I purchased this pink color online because it’s still not available here in UAE I think it will be after 6 months or so. It’s a perfect pink base for me. Sometimes when I’m so lazy I just put it on my lids alone. The only thing I don’t like about this product when you put more on your lids it’s really hard to blend because it dries do quickly the good thing is it stay on my lids for the whole day but not 24hrs. It creases a bit after 10 hrs. 

5. MAC EYE KHOL in TEDDY - I was in a MAC store and was trying to

purchased POWERSURGE eye khol when I saw this teddy and fell in love with it instantly. I even dropped the Powersurge and grab the Teddy when a MAC representative told me that the powersurge was out for a long time now and might be out soon so I just grab both of them. But since I bought them I’d been using teddy everyday and the powersurge for I think twice. It’s very creamy and glides on smoothly and so easy to apply the color was describe as intense bronze but I think it’s more of dark chocolate brown with bronze. If you want to try a more than the basic plain brown eyeliner try this teddy.. It’s just perfect!! 

6. ESSIE NAIL POLISH MINT CANDY APPLE - I was so hesitant to choose this color because I never used pastel on my nails because I don’t think it will compliment my skin tone but when I tried ahhh… i feel so  springy so ready for the spring. My husband like it too. It’s the perfect spring mint shade. A must try for spring.

7. CLINIQUE MOISTURE SURGE INTENSE SKIN FORTIFYING HYDRATOR - I had been using clinique for about 3 years now and It has been my HG when it comes to my skin routine. This winter my skin became to dry and flaky so I went to Clinique with my husband and they gave me a sample for this Moisture Surge Intense because I don’t want to purchase new products and if it didn’t work i’ll just throw it on my cabinet with the other products that didn’t  work for me. So I still do my Skin routine and after my usual moisturizer I put a layer of this as well and after 2-3 days i feel my skin more moisturized and smooth unlike before that it was so tight and uncomfortable. So maybe by summer my skin will get back to its normal condition as before.

So that’s it for my monthly favorites. Till next month. :)

xoxo - chel