Brands That Give Back and Recycle

Happy New Year everyone! We're down to the last few hours of 2016. It hasn't been such a good year, to be honest, but I do look forward that the next year may bring other good vibes. Ushering the new year also has a lot of traditions from the feast during New Year's eve, to putting round fruits on the table, coins on the corners of the house, wearing red, etc. Thankfully, after so many years, the practice of firecrackers is no longer popular for safety purposes. Also, it's quite stressful for pets. I remember back when my dog used to get stressed every New Year's Eve she would always be hiding in the bathroom or under the couch.

Another tradition of the whole out with the old and in with the new is a super general spring cleaning. We literally take everything out of our closet and evaluate things which we don't need anymore, which we either sell or give away. I did my own emptying, being a pack-cat myself and I found myself emptying get this - four bags of clothes which I do not wear anymore and would not be wearing being the main reason is that - they no longer fit me, most especially in the shoulders and lats area.

There are stuff that we can give away because there are people who can still wear them, but there are items hiding at the back of our closets where no one can wear as well, clothes that have seen better days, stiffened-up towels, etc.  I found out that there are some brands who do recycling programs, which can help the environment by reducing carbon footprint as we give ourselves (and our storage space) more space to breathe.

MAC Cosmetics

MAC is more than just a makeup brand. It gives back to the community in various ways. The Back-To-MAC program is MAC's recycling program. Instead of throwing out empty MAC containers in the trash, return 6 of them to the MAC counter and get a free lipstick. This service though is no longer available in the Philippines since the recycling facility isn't available here but other countries still practice it.

Lush

The black pots that hold your Lush cosmetic products actually go a long way. They are made of sturdy polypropylene plastic so that they can be cleansed, processed, and recycled for future use once again. Return  5 empty black pots and get a free face mask as your contribution to save the environment in reducing plastic landfill waste

Globe Telecom

Do you have these old phones lying around your house? That old phone from college or your first job or phones that no longer work along with conked out chargers? Drop off your old gadgets to any Globe store (there are boxes in the store). Our old phones can have a new life in helping build schools in Aklan.

H&M

If you have old clothes and linens which have literally seen better days, like faded shirts, stiffened-up towels, blankets with holes, etc. place them in bags and donate them to any H&M store and receive a 15% discount coupon for every bag donated. Unwanted garments of any condition or brand can have a new life by being recycled into something else.

The Body Shop

The Body Shop prides itself in being a cruelty-free cosmetics brand inspired by nature. You can return your empty The Body Shop plastic containers in the store. They also have promos for their recycling programs on certain seasons.


Your spring cleaning can not only help people in need, but it can also help the environment by reducing landfill waste and letting those old items which can no longer be used or wearable have new lives. Enjoy the New Year with a new start and more space knowing you have done your part to Mother Earth!

Shiso White BB Serum : A Quick Flawless Fix for Summer.

During summer, the sun is shining and really, spending 2 hours cooped up at home doing makeup when it's just so pretty outside isn't in anyone's agenda. Besides, all that layers of makeup, moisturizer, primer, and foundation is bound to melt one way or the other. It's during the summer when I try to simplify most of my routines, making me subsist on eyebrow pencils, lipstick, bronzer, and mascara (sometimes, there's eyeliner  too). For those blessed with amazing skin and features, then congratulations, you do not need makeup during these two months of hotness. There are times when we need a bit of help, and when too much layering isn't in our agenda, we must say all hail to multipurpose magical things.

BB creams are loved by many, as they give flawless results while caring for the skin with its moisturizing properties with built-in sunblock to boot. If you're fair-skinned with a beige-y undertone you may find that BB creams work well for you, as most BB creams are this shade. Some who find it too white on them may tame things down by correcting with a darker powder or bronzer. Personally, I've had that same problem with BB creams though, but in the course of time, I've learned to adjust.

The Body Shop's newest Moisture White Shiso BB Serum meets me halfway in addressing those needs. I like the benefits BB creams and serums have but I'm kinda off with the grayish whitish case it has, as most of them seem a bit dark for me. This newest product adjusts to my tone just a tad (not exactly a complete match but it will do) so I still get the benefits I need without looking like my face is whiter than the rest of me.

Natural ingredients like Vitamin C, Licorice, shiso (an herb in the mint/basil family believed to reduce early melanin-making signals) help brighten skin. I prefer using the term "brightening" which means it just evens out skin tone and makes it less dull. There is also community trade aloe vera to help soothen and cool skin during hot summer days. There's also SPF 25 PA+++ which protects our skin from the sun.

The bottle though, if you can see is quite tiny, only 30 mL, but really, this is only the amount you need. Otherwise, it would be too much.

I think the amount here is practically less than pea size and I really spread it on my face to even out my skin. As you can see, there's a beige tint so it's like a tinted moisturizer with more coverage. It can cover redness to a certain extent while looking natural. For early mornings to work when we don't have much time, this can be our base. We don't need much makeup on ordinary days. Just on special occasions. Hey, it's summer. As our hemlines go higher, keep our makeup simpler.

It really doesn't feel sticky though, despite the fact that it's very potent. I still have to set it with powder after applying my cheek tint just to make sure things don't slide. I do a bit of contouring just to make sure that my face doesn't look white flat and to add a little warmth, to balance the brightening effect and to make the look more natural.

I can use this as an everyday base if I'm going out and want my skin to look a bit better. It's quite hard to remove though. I tried removing the swatch at the back of my hand with soap and water and there's still residue left. I guess this means I can take this with me on trips too, when I'll be doing a lot of walking.

This is a new product now available at all The Body Shop stores.

Everything's Up In Chocolate

Something yummy's in my drawer but it's not for my tummy. In line with Valentine's Day, The Body Shop takes inspiration from an iconic Valentine treat that's not just for grownups but for everyone, regardless of sugar level - CHOCOLATE. Their bath and body line, Chocomania, isn't just a treat for the skin but also for the senses.

Sensual, sweet, and tantalizing, the Chocomania bath and body line came in time for Valentine's day. Taking a whiff from the products, it really does smell like chocolate. I'm reminded of chocolate cake or brownie batter, had I closed my eyes, I would've taken a taste. But let me remind you that although they smell sweet and yummy, the Chocomania range is best left for the skin instead of the digestive system. It's not an edible treat okay?

What I have here with me are the Chocomania body lotion and body butter, both for moisturizing my skin on off-pole days or relieving chafed skin (I always have to stress that I use moisturizer only when I'm not dancing) after an hour of class or practicing. The one I have is just half of the entire Chocomania range, though.

For sloughing off dead skin, the body scrub (Php 995) makes showering and exfoliating a nice treat. This one was the one whose appearance reminded me so much of brownie batter, and it smells like it too. Then use the shower cream right after (Php 895)

To retain the soft baby smooth skin in the shower, seal off moisture with the moisturizer. The moisturizer left my skin feeling nice and soft, and it's easily absorbable on the skin. I'm glad that it didn't rub on my clothes after, or else that would be a pain to remove.

The Chocomania body butter is pricier than usual body butters (Php 1095). It is not your usual body butter. Your usual body butters provide only 24 hours moisturization. This body butter is a little more generous in adding another 24-hour duty, so that's a total of 48-hour moisturization. If you compare it to other body butters, if you're a body butter user like me, it's richer and heavier in consistency, almost like real spreadable butter on bread except that it's semi-solid on room temperature. I use only little amount and on areas that are super dry and need extra care - elbows, knees, feet, hands, and sometimes my tummy and back. It works well, too well that it's scary to pole if you have this on your thighs, back-of-knee and tops of the feet the night before. The best time to use this? Saturday night, when there's no pole on Sundays.

Aside from layering the entire line for an intense, yummy, and chocolate-y feel, feel free to experiment and mix with your favorite The Body Shop lotion/body butter "flavors". I've tried mixing my Chocomania lotion with my Candied Ginger hand cream from the holiday scents and I got a really nice, warm, spicy-sweet scent that reminded me of hot cocoa and gingerbread. A very romantic concoction could be classic romance icons - strawberry and chocomania - like sweet strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. How about mixing satsuma and chocolate? or if sweetness is your thing, try vanilla and chocolate. I have yet to try the combination of Moringa and Chocomania, which can be interesting, but so far the ginger and chocolate scent is in my favorite list. Now that's something yummy!

The Comeback of the Olive Dry Oil Mist! Yay!

Weeks ago, there have been teaser posters at The Body Shop stores as well as the Facebook fan page showing a "Mystery Item".

Just an outline. Definite clue was a product making a comeback. If you're a TBS follower since day 1 and a user, I think that even without clues, you'd know what it is. Well, the secret was finally revealed a few weeks ago. It was a product making a comeback and it's the Olive Dry Oil Mist!

This shot will tell you that it's really back.

Apparently, the Olive Dry Oil Mist is a very popular product here in the Philippines. The clean olive scent and the luxurious feel of moisturized skin without the greasy afterfeel (yes it's true it's oil but not a greasy slick was felt) made it a bestseller here. However, globally, it wasn't as popular so they had to let it go. This is a special order for the fans of the product here in the Philippines who love it a lot.

Actually, it's my first time to use this product. I asked them, if it's like the bath oils you apply while the skin is damp and then towel off. Turns our it's just like lotion. You towel off, spray, and then spread. Ironically, despite the fact that it's oil, my skin wasn't left greasy or yucky. In fact, the reason why it was such a bestseller in the Philippines was because it had the moisturizing action we need without the slick greasy feel we hate. In fact, it was easily absorbed by the body and I didn't feel greasy all throughout the day.

Where do I use this? All over. During the night, I couple this with The Body Shop's Olive Body Butter on my super dry areas like my elbows, knees, feet, ankles, and I take extra TLC on my body parts that need extra moisture as well as the parts where my skin gets chafed a lot.

This however, is available for a limited time only. When I visited The Body Shop branches in Makati, I found out that the Olive Dry Oil Mist bottles were already gone, and some stores have only little bottles left. So if you must, it's best to stock up on the bottles right away, now that it's available still and for a sale price of Php495.

I do wish that the Olive Dry Oil Mist would remain as a permanent stock though, even here in the Philippines. But seeing how it's fast flying off the shelves now may bring The Body Shop to make it a permanent stay hopefully. :) It's such a pretty stocking stuffer especially now it's colder and we need extra care for our dry skin.

Cranberry, Vanilla, and Ginger for the Home

The Body Shop not only takes care of our bodies and make sure that our skin's soft, glowing, and smelling so good with our faces primped, prepped, and smoldering, but it takes care of the home and make sure that the home smells just as yummy, with their collection of home fragrances like fragrance oils, candles, reed diffusers, hand wash, and body, room, and linen spritzes.

Last year, The Body Shop's three yummy holiday scents: Cranberry Joy, Spiced Vanilla, and Jolly Orange sent Christmas as early as November to me. The Cranberry Joy scented candle, I was surprised at how the candle didn't smell too waxy. I used it early this year and light it up occasionally whenever I want to waft off the smell of cooked food and I'm surprised that even after a year, it still smells super yummy, like cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving dinner. Anyway, for this year, Cranberry and Vanilla remained but Jolly Orange had to step aside. It did make way for a yummy scent, which I fell in love with I'd go for hoarding sprees when the TF hits more. This new scent is Candied Ginger.

Candied Ginger is an uplifting and energising scent. Ginger is known for its therapeutic qualities (like healing sore throat or muscle pain) with its warmth that helps soothe and relieve swelling. Now just when you think, "So will my room smell like luya on tinola?" it won't I promise. The combination of sweet and spicy notes will remind you of freshly baked gingerbread cookies. When I smelled the body scrub (which is super creamy and lush on the skin you won't realize it's sloughing dead skin off you), I was reminded of cake batter, in fact instead of salabat.

As I rave about Candied Ginger, I'm so happy I went home with two of these Candied Ginger treats - Fragrance Oil and Hand wash. You can use the hand wash in your powder room or in the kitchen sink after an entire afternoon cooking up Christmas dinner and you want to greet your guests without letting them smell the chopped garlic or onion from your hands.

The fragrance oil is my super-affordable (only Php 495) and super-sulit (a few drops is all I need) companion if I want an energizing boost when I'm sniffly or tired or if I want the house to smell like a house instead of the dinner I cooked.

I got this oil burner as a giveaway from one of the weddings I did this year. What I do is light the tea candle, put some water on the bin and a few (four will do) drops of candied ginger fragrance oil and relax. I always remember to put out the candle of course, if the oil burner is starting to dry and empty out.

For a safer alternative if you want to just drift off and sleep and not worry about putting out a candle, the reed diffuser is a good alternative. I have here with me Cranberry Joy, which I bet will smell as sweet and fresh as the candle I used.

Reed diffusers (this one costs Php 2,095) work very simple. You open the bottle, remove the cork of course, and then you place the sticks inside the bottle and capillary action will do the rest. the setup is pretty enough as a display. To be extra-safe, put it in a place where kids or pets won't knock over it or reach it to avoid any accidents. I was advised to set this up before I leave for a trip so when I come home, the house doesn't have that musty dead air smell. And since I don't have to light anything with a match or candle, it's just great to be left alone until the scent wears off (which would probably be a month or so).

Just like all holiday collections, yummies like these are only available at a very limited time so best to catch them at The Body Shop Stores while you can.

Libertine: White Musk, but Girlier.

White Musk is one of The Body Shop's iconic and epic fragrances. It's still in stands as of today, as other fragrances go on and off their shelves. Clean but musky (that's why it's called white musk), light with a bit of spice, you can share this with your man, since it's a unisex scent, and it won't look so girly too, in case he brings it in his travelling bag. This new White Musk though, is for us ladies, and I think the pink pretty bottle is already a giveaway.

Save for the pretty pink bottle, White Musk Libertine body mist still retains the usual clean, woody muskiness of the usual white musk. Yet it's made sweeter with notes of Turkish Delight (yumm!), baby orchid, and Chantilly cream. In comparison with the original White Musk, Libertine is much more floral, a bit warmer and more romantic.

Since musk fragrances are warmer and headier than fruity fragrances, I like wearing it as a light mist on me. Muskier fragrances are great that the weather's starting to get colder as well and they won't be as overpowering as it is when the temperature's higher.

White Musk Libertine is available as eau de parfum ( Php 1,595), body lotion (Php 995), body mist (Php 995, it's the one pictured above), body wash (Php 750), and eau de toilette (Php1695 for 60 mL and Php 1,095 for 30 mL). The Body Shop also offers White Musk Libertine sets, which are perfect gifts for girls who you know who are fans of the original iconic White Musk set.

Smoky Eyes This 2011 Holiday From The Body Shop

Saturday was a busy day for me. I started my day 5 am since I had to do a wedding (which I'll blog about soon). Then, I trooped over to QC for an appointment and back to ortigas, at SM Megamall to be exact to bond with one of the brands that I consider my "coming of age brands", a brand I stuck to from teenage years to adulthood. I'm talking about The Body Shop.

The Body Shop's makeup collection is all about smoke and sparkle, which means smoky eyes, glossy lips, and sparkle. Remember, come December there's gonna be a lot of Christmas parties, events, and it's definitely a must to look good.

I was given a makeover by The Body Shop makeup artist, Roma. She was really nice and had a very light hand with applying makeup. We tried out this season's palette, the 4-Step Smoky Eyes Palette. She even made me choose if I wanted to try the Silver Black palette or the Golden Brown one, I opted for warm smoky eyes so golden brown. She agreed and in fact had that same idea in mind.

Here's Roma's super awesome makeup station that I wanna take home with me.

For foundation, she used The Body Shops' Extra Virgin Minerals for foundation. She had to use the darkest shade mixed with a little drip of medium foundation on me. My my my, someone's been tanning but she got it right. I love that it didn't feel sticky or heavy at all, and it complied with my lack-of-sleep skin making me look supermodel fresh.

And speaking of supermodel, here's how the palette looks like for the supermodel smoky eyes.

It's so pretty! On its own, it looks like a gift waiting for you.

The 4-Step Smoky Eyes palette contains four colors - 3 powder colors and one sparkly cream-to-powder highlighter. It even has a mini applicator brush and pencil since smoky eyes aren't complete without eyeliner.

At the back there's a mini-lesson for you, in case you don't know what to do. When you familiarize yourself with the palette, you may create your own modification and adaptation of the smoky eye.

Swatches!

#1 is warm white base color, which can be applied from lashline to browbone if you want just a sweep of color on lazy office days.

#2 is a dark brown shadow, which can be used to contour the eyes to give depth.

#3 is a chocolate brown shadow, which can be used to further add depth or to define the lower lid or set the eyeliner so it doesn't run.

#4 is a rich brown eye liner (or definer) to be used to tightline and define eyes.

Do you notice that this palette has no presence of black whatsoever? Although black may be omnipresent in smoky eyes, can it be possible to have a purely brown smoky eye?

It looks like it! Roma gave me a warm brown smoky eye that I can take from an afternoon photoshoot to an evening event, depending on how I want it. The look is very wearable. A bride can wear it, a maid of honor can wear it, and well, anyone can wear it in any occasion. I like that the colors are so neutral but they're not so harsh or anything. Yet, my eyes still popped out. What Roma did with the cream-to-powder highlighter was use it as a topper color on my lid, so there's sparkle. It can be used for the browbone too, if you want it to pop.

Just as an ender to smoky eyes are subtle contours and peach glossy lips. The hi-shine lip treatment in coral was topped on a natural peach lip color so all blends in.

With regards to my brows, I was actually surprised that I could carry a darker brown shade than my usual. I like! Another discovery.

The 4-Step Smoky Eyes palette costs Php 1,495. The palette used on me is the Golden Brown Palette, but there's also the Silver and Black palette, which is stronger and more on the cooler side of the spectrum.

TBS Got Bronzey with Honey Bronze And Cruising the Sale Rack

Here's a look at what The Body Shop has to offer. Last season was fresh, springy, but edgy. This season... warm and luxuriously rich and luminous skin that's so bronzey and sparkly. I present, Honey Bronze!

Preserving our beach tans still, are products that enhance this color, or since we're naturally tan anyway, enhance our pretty golden colors! For an all-over glow, I think the Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil would do the trick. It's got shimmer particles that reflect and play with light for luminous skin during that night out. Just when the word "oil" gives slick and greasy-grimy feelings by just the sound of it, this one has a dry finish. I did a patch test on a small area of my skin, walked around the mall, and discovered that it's quickly absorbed by the skin. It's got a faint fragrance too that smells just like my honey-inspired makeup remover. Turns out it's got honey in it, having Community Fair Trade honey from Ethiopia.

To top this off, I tried and dusted some Honey Bronze Brilliance Powder. To avoid being sparkly and shiny that you seem to be a gold reflector, what I think is best is to dab this on parts where the light hits you first like collarbones, shoulders, or the shins. Just don't use this to contour, because the shimmer particles will just do the opposite.

Bronzers are matte, and depending on what shade you are (there are 3 colors to choose from), you could use this to contour subtly to give face definition.

The honeycomb pattern is too cute as well, goes well with the collection theme. Aside from contouring, they give the face warmth or could be used with your favorite face powder should your complexion have gotten dark from your recent beach trip.

If you notice, the collection is more focusing on skin, so palettes and colors are skipped. For the face, there's also a bronzing gel and lip nectar, so basically since the focus is on skin, makeup can be kept simple. Gloss, defined brows, and lots of mascara will do the trick. After all, with skin like that, it's best showed off.

Once I get to know the products more, I'll do more tutorials on how to get pretty bronzey looks that's easy and foolproof. I'll look for ways on how to maximize the products once I get to know them. For beginners, the powder bronzers and lip nectars could be your best bets. Girls who would like to show off a new figure could use the non-streaky dry oil (just take extra care, especially if you're wearing anything white or light-colored).

After taking shots of the new products, I went over the sale section since The Body Shop always has its midyear sale where they drop prices of some of the products.

Bath sets below 500 in every flavor/scent you want (eyeing on moringa, grapefruit, and strawberry).

Sale means sale here, 50, 60, or 70% and if you're a Love Your Body member, they slash off an additional 10% on your net purchase when you show your card when its time to pay on the counter. There are also goodies less than 200 pesos, which are great for giveaways if you're doing early Christmas shopping.

The sale has been going for quite some time. When I asked when it would end, the girls told me the last day would be on July 28, so I think it's time to go and rush if you want to take advantage of the sale. I bought a huge tub of Pink Grapefruit Body Butter and it cost me only Php250.00, which is really a huge fraction of what it would normally cost. Also, if there's a favorite LE product you want to stock, then it's now time to.

Conceal+Heal = Excellent!

I get spots too, I kid you not. I don't know when or why they occur but sometimes, a few nasty red swollen spots get lost on spots on my face that just ruin it. Concealer would be the first thing I'd reach out for, but since makeup can clog the pores (it is, after all, still a foreign body), this still needs to be off me the moment I step inside the house, where that's the only place I allow myself to be seen with the spots as they are. When I get home or sleep, I try to speed up my pimple-begone process by putting drying lotion.

Now only if there could be a magic potion that would conceal and heal in one? That's where The Body Shop's tea tree oil concealer comes in. The one on the picture is the second one I have as I've lost the first one from an unfortunate incident that I'd rather not live again.

Since it's got tea tree oil incorporated into it (the faint tea tree oil smell is a giveaway), that's the part where it sorta heals the skin. Tea tree oil is known to have antibacterial properties as it is used on insect bites, minor wound, and even zits without the pain or stinging or burning sensation as conventional anti-acne medications do

.

I chose shade #2 because it's yellow-toned (it kinda helps nix out the redness and all). The other shade I find too beige and pale for me, it rather highlights the blemish than conceals it, so I choose something that blends more with my skin. It's effective and creamy enough to cover my blemish without cracking like a mask, so save for the bump, I look a tad more flawless. It works better for me if I rub some on my ring finger (the rubbing and the warmth of my own fingers gets the product to be easier to work with. I like using this on redness, occasional zits, and sometimes on undereyes, since yellow-toned concealers work better for me.

The packaging is also very convenient since it's almost like a lipstick, so it's a-okay for travels too. Just don't confuse it with your lipstick, if your lippie though. Besides, the super-friendly price (a bit less than Php500) makes it a really nice buy for me.

If it contributes a lot with my healing process, I think I'd be happy. But I'm glad to report that this one doesn't sting my skin or irritates it. As with true blue skincare routines, we should remember to still follow them to the letter (removing makeup before going to bed, keeping hydrated, stuff like that) and do patch tests first to see if a product is safe to use for your own body chemistry.

Is this something I'd buy again? Yes definitely! I have a zit-safe concealer that's totally awesome that makes me flawless until I take the makeup off or until its healing properties get the zit to say bye-bye on its own.

The Body Shop Moisture White Line Review

The immaculately white bottles in The Body Shop's shelves are a new line to their growing family of skin care to suit all skin needs. The Body Shop answers our call to bright and luminous skin like Asianovela actresses with the Moisture White line, which brightens the skin naturally (i.e. again, no pasty or fake colors) while caring for the skin and the environment. I have sampled out three of the products in this line and I asked a friend of mine to help me along so it's not that biased too.

When I was asked to try it out, I asked if the "white" part meant erasing my tan, it wasn't the case. Yay! It just brightens skin from within, so everything's all natural since they use natural ingredients like vitamin C and Community Trade aloe vera to care for our skin. This line helps prevent hyperpigmentation, age spots, and freckles making the skin look more even and luminous. A sun-worshipper like me could benefit from that too because with the hours I spend swimming and baking, who knows what spots could creep through my skin. Plus sometimes, swimming in the pool tends to gray me out, so this one will help the whole world know that I'm not a gray goose.

First up on the testing road was the Foaming Facial Wash. I find foaming facial washes so amusing. You pump the nozzle and foam comes out instead of a serum. The foam feels so cushy on the face and my friend told me it smells absolutely clean and beats the wet wipes I used to clean the face. It smells very gentle in fact, and just like the packaging, it's so simple. The best part was, I felt really clean and refreshed after using it, and only little toner was needed afterwards to get all the gunk out. Another nice thing about it was it didn't sting my skin.

The Moisture Milk is for those who are scared of moisturizer because they feel like their oil glands would go into hyperdrive and the skin would start regreasing minutes after moisturizer has been massaged to on the skin. Take note that the Moisture Milk is for any skin type - oily, dry, combination. It's not heavy or greasy like creams, and since this summer is abnormally hot, this could be a great alternative to our richer cold-season creams. It feels absolutely cool too on the skin, I think it's due to the community trade aloe though (remember how aloe vera gel cools our sunburnt skin?). It doesn't have SPF though, so if you're using this and going out, be sure to slap on anything with SPF. During a photoshoot though, I could use this since it doesn't have the SPF that bounces lights for the ghostly look.

With the word on SPF, here's the one to the rescue. The BB cream. This one I was quite hesitant to try since the last BB cream I tried made me look too pink and fair and almost unnatural. Most BB creams I try are either too light or too pink and I have yet to find something that would flatter my skin tone. The Body Shop Moisture White Shiso BB cream here is quite light, but at least it was more on the beige side.

Since I'm darker, I have to be careful to not apply too much that my face looks whiter than the rest of my body. It's still a bit bright and light when I swatched it over my cheek, but at least it could still be remedied by a slightly more honey-colored powder foundation.

I encircled the part where I swatched it. I could still note the difference (the one with the BB cream is on the right side, it kinda looks more beige than my own skin) but at least it's not that drastic when it comes to my neck. The BB cream is like a tinted moisturizer I suppose. It has a very slight coverage and my skin looks more flawless than it is when it's bare. I'd have to use little amounts of this or probably mix it with the Moisture Milk, so it goes on sheer with a slight, slight tint.

There are other products in this line to try. One thing I'm curious though is the Moisture White Shiso Concentrated Target Perfector, which zeroes in on dark spots to minimize their appearance. It sounds like a weapon by the name, when it's actually a tiny roll-on device that you apply on dark spots and freckles. The thing that won me over this line is more of the simplicity of the packaging and the scent. The heat of the summer makes me more sensitive to heavier scents, and the lighter formula could be a refreshing change as the temperatures rise up.

***Disclaimer: product provided for review.

The Body Shop Makeup Contest: View From The Judges' Stand

When Billie sent me a message asking me if I could be part of the panel of judges to be judging The Body Shop's Makeup Competition, I was both nervous and excited that I was in a mass of nerves and excitedness mixed with high endorphin levels that I had to go back to my calm self in the cab. It was an opportunity of a lifetime that I couldn't miss. The Body Shop is a brand I practically grew up with. It started as a gift from my aunties and I still remember that I had a passionfruit-scented frosty purple lipstick by TBS when I was in high school. Aside from the awesome products, I love the fact that this is a brand that's earth-friendly. As a pro makeup artist, I keep The Body Shop products in my stash since I love to use makeup that's cruelty-free and has a big no-no to animal testing since this little duckie is an animal lover.

So here's the view from the judge's seat, while the event gets all warmed up.

Silly silly me. I was quite surprised that my bag was so light. When I was digging in when I got to Pan Pacific Manila, I then knew why - I forgot my camera at home!!!! errrrggghh! Good thing that I had my phone's camera function with me which worked quite well for me to get details right.

Another happy thing is I was able to see a familiar face in the event. Joining the judges' panel is one super-duper amazing makeup artist who I've known for since I started out with makeup... Cherry Pacheco. Isn't she pretty? I super love how she does her eyebrows too and how detailed she is with makeup and blending.

Another familiar face is fellow blogger Vince Golangco. He was there to host the event with his co-host Tracy. They're DJs on The Wake Up Show at Mellow 94.7. Oh and Vince, thank you so much for plugging my blog!

Each year, The Body Shop Philippines sends one in-store makeup artist to Singapore to compete for The Body Shop Regional Makeup Competition along with other artists from The Body Shop from all over Asia and Australia for the title. To know who'll be the lucky makeup artist to get sent to Singapore, The Body Shop holds this contest among their makeup artists and in this event, there are 8 finalists to vie for the title.

In this competition, it's not just makeup and go. Artists first had to execute their design on a smudge chart, and that smudge chart had to be judged as well. They were also judged on their makeup application, technique, and even their showmanship (i.e. overall appearance, posture, confidence, cleanliness, etc). We even had to do a Q&A portion to get to know them more.

The judges didn't just stay on the seats. We also went around to check on the contestants to see them at work up close.

Michael of TBS Festival Mall applies base makeup on Natasha. Base makeup is absolutely important, since the base provides the canvas for good makeup. Foundation and concealer have to be match the model's skin tone, and foundation had to look like second skin instead of a mass of powder slapped on. Brows are the hardest part in makeup, but they're very, very important to frame the face.

Makeup artists busy at work. :)

After base comes color, so the artists now create their edgy looks inspired by The Body Shop's spring collection Brush With Fashion (you could read my review on the collection here). Recalling Brush With Fashion as a very edgy collection with fresh and pretty colors mixed with smoky grays and matte blacks, we have more or less an idea on how the makeup could and should look, with a touch of their own.

After our own deliberation (a really hard one as they were all so good) we had to reach a decision. The artist who'll be sent to Singapore is none other than Via of The Body Shop Ermita. Yay!

Big congratulations too to the runners up Michael of TBS Festival Mall and Gil of TBS Ayala.

Congratulations to everyone! To our very happy winner, good luck, have fun, and be filled with happy vibes!

Going home with some more love. :)

That makeup pouch will be baptized this weekend during touch-ups for my debutante and bride. So much pro and organized to look at than fishing out makeup jiggling in the bag.

After the event, it was back to Makati for me, but before heading home, I stopped by The Body Shop to fill in on their classic skincare products which are a treat to my skin and the senses.

This is a different take to taking my vitamins. Vitamin E for the skin around my eyes so I'll always have bright, awake, and wrinkle-free eyes. Vitamin C for a burst of energy for tired skin.

Did anyone have fun there? I sure hope everyone did. Thank you The Body Shop Philippines too for this opportunity!

Brush With Fashion Makes An Edgy Spring from The Body Shop

Spring reminds us of - flowers, pretty things, birds, and butterflies. The Body Shop for this year decided to do one thing... to go the other end of the spectrum and go edgy by unleashing their Brush With Fashion collection for spring. Just this afternoon, they launched the collection to a small group of bloggers at SM Megamall so after my shoot, I immediately got there bags, malette, and all.Prior to this, I already did my homework and visited a store near my place and saw the palettes. It did have a pretty pink color overall and it had the very girly theme, but this isn't girly flowers and pastels but it's got a very edgy, fasyon, and rocker-chic vibe, as you could see with the collection.

The Body Shop collaborated with the London College of Fashion, the most prestigious fashion school in the UK that trained many great designers, like the famous Jimmy Choo. As you could see, the designs on the palettes and cases look like they came out of a fashion magazine or homework of a fashion student.

Now, why is it called Brush With Fashion? All products have built-in brushes incorporated in them - from the all-over face base, tailored cheek tint, lip shine, and palettes. Just great for busy busy girls on the go who have no time to fumble for a separate brush right?

First up, let's look at the brush of the Illuminating Face Base:

It's just like painting class, where we paint an all-over warm glow on the skin. This product evens out skin and gives it a dewy glow before setting it in powder. Personally, when it's spring-summer, I don't like wearing too much makeup but I like a bit of even skin there and there. this would help, yes?

For me, I like to dab this on spot areas before blending it all with the warmth of my fingers. Our tropical humid climate would tell us to set this with loose powder because it would just slide right out if we let it be.

If you're the type who's lazy to find out what blush shade you are, here's a product that could help: the Tailored Cheek Tint.

The difference between the Tailored Cheek Tint from the regular bestseller Lip and Cheek Tint The Body Shop has is that this gel formula goes on clear at first from the tube but once it gets in contact with the skin, it adapts to the body temperature turning into a blush color that's just for you. On some people, it could be a pretty windburnt pink. On some, it could be a flattering coral. It really doesn't matter what shade it turns, but it's sure to be something that's just for you, so no need to shop for blush that you won't use. Since this is gel, remember to put this on before powder so it glows on more naturally instead of 80's streaky.

The Hi-Shine Lip Treatment also has built-in brushes, which are great for personal use. Of course, if you'll be using this professionally, as with all makeups in this line, remember to dab the built-in brush on a clean palette to dispense product and use a clean separate brush to apply to a client to avoid cross-contamination.

It has a very, very slight tint for those lazy to use a separate lipstick while giving chapped lips its much-needed TLC with a yummy fruity passionfruit scent.

There are two eye palettes to choose from, to mix-and-match with very wearable shades that could be worn by women of all ages from 20-60 years old.

Personally, I like the Boho Beauty, with warm brown shades, which are perfect for bridals. I love how pigmented they are and they look great on tanned skin. It goes splendid with brown or nude lip gloss and messy beachy curls.

The next palette, A La Mode is supposedly for fair skinned girls but I think with a little brown thrown in, a morena girl could use this too. The matte flat black is great to set kohls for that intense smoky eye and glittery silvers and pinks could lighten and liven things up.

Aside from the very pigmented colors, the eye palettes have a mini brush to deposit color and also glitter liner to line the eyes, as we could see in the Boho Beauty palette.

Brush With Fashion accessories include a limited edition mini brush set that you could take with you for travels with a cute and chic design instead of the traditional and iconic black packaging we're used to. As with The Body Shop is all about being animal-friendly, the brushes use synthetic bristles instead of animal hair, but work just as well with powder products.

Limited edition gifts with purchase are also available. First up, I'd like to show this cosmetic pouch, which could be helpful for makeup artists. The bag holds brushes and stuff necessary for touch-ups that could be used for photoshoots or weddings. The pouch is available for a minimum purchase of Php3,500, which should include a Brush With Fashion item.

For a minimum purchase of Php2,500 inclusive of a Brush With Fashion palette, the GWP would be an eco-friendly bag which could be used to hold items bought from a bazaar or other small items bought around the store.

Personally speaking, I really like the Boho Beauty palette since it's so classic. I could use it and it would look really great and classic. I could have another client use the color and it would look really clean. The cheek tint I could use on days when I feel like being lazy to whip out my brushes and palettes. Either way, this looks like a cool and exciting collection to check out.