The Wonder of the Japonesque Power Curler

I've used my Shu Uemura Lash Curler for about two years now, and I have to say it was a good run. Honestly it was getting a bit painful to curl my lashes with it these past few months which is why I had to look for an alternative. Repurchasing the Shu curler in stores would cost more than some high end foundations - no joke - which is what led me to the Japonesque Power Curler. 

Honestly, it was love at first...curl? The shape is a little more almond, therefore more flat and less curved, which I discovered to be perfect for my eye shape. It gets 90% of my lashes save for the ends, but its nothing a second curl can't fix. Best part? No pinching whatsoever. I never realized I was actually experiencing a bit of it while I used the Shu curler. No pain from the Japonesque this time!

The lashes themselves stay in position until the end of the day (>10 hours), but that can be attributed to the fact that I only wear waterproof mascara. Though for stick straight Asian lashes, I have to say that's very good. For non-waterproof mascara or for wetter formulas, I observed that they maintain 60% of the curl after 3-4 hours, so those of you who like water resistant, take note!

L - Japonesque R - Shu Uemura. The reason why Japonesque lays flat against the eye (therefore getting more lashes) is because the clamp is on the outer side. The Japonesque curler is also larger in size.

Curve comparisons with Japonesque on the left. As I mentioned, the Japonesque one is a little less curved and more of an almond shape.

I also love that I can get free refills of the curler pad from Japonesque online or Beauty Bar where I purchased it, for as long as the lash curler is in tact. Since I'm pretty careful with my things, I'd say thats a good couple of years.

All in all, the Japonesque curler was a very worthy investment and will be something I will be repurchasing in the future. Sorry, Shu Uemura!

Not really. You pinched my eyelids for years.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

The Wonder of the Japonesque Power Curler

By Pauline Read More

Golden Rose 2000 Lipstick in 132: Venture Into Neon Corals

If I'm being honest, I'm not one for bold, neon colours as I neither had the tan nor confidence to rock it. April and May have contributed greatly to giving my skin more colour - no thanks to my sunblock - and a recommendation from one of my dear friends Pau brought me to purchase this Golden Rose 2000 Lipstick. 

I've never heard of the brand Golden Rose 2000 (is the 2000 really necessary?) prior to Pau's recommendation. From what I gather its a Turkish brand under the umbrella Erkul Corporation. A lot of their products seem to be catered to bold looks, so if you're after that or interested in trying that out, you might want to look into their other products.

As you can see, there is barely any difference in one swipe and two swipes. It's pretty pigmented that it will cover most of your natural lip, but its not fully opaque. 

This colour is bright. In her Snaps they appeared to be a redder coral and rather sheer, reminding me a lot of the long gone MAC Viva Glam Cyndi. Instead, I got an almost neon red coral that is not only extremely pigmented but also very long lasting due to the slightly sticky texture. It is very lightweight still, but I can't say that it is intensely hydrating. You might want to use a lip balm before application and touch up from time to time.

Ignore the messy hair - thank God its not messy now - this was pre-Keratin, which I'm thinking about blogging!

The consistency is similar to a regular lipstick, with slight stickiness. While it certainly helps to keep the colour on for longer, those of you who abhor stickiness might need to stay away. The lipstick wore well for around 4 hours before I needed to reapply, but take note that I applied lip balm twice within that period. As I live in a tropical country, your climate might influence the reapplication time of this lipstick.

I find that this colour looks perfect with a really clean, slightly dewy base with a neutral eyeshadow and a bit of mascara. Great if you don't want to spend too much time on your make-up, but want it to make a statement. Plus points if you have a bit of a tan.

That's it from me! Have you tried this brand? Do you know any similar colours? Let's chat in the comments section below!

Friday, June 24, 2016

Golden Rose 2000 Lipstick in 132: Venture Into Neon Corals

By Pauline Read More

The new lipstick favourite: Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle

I never realized how difficult it was to do a comeback post after being gone for a considerable amount of time. I've already rescheduled two posts and deleted two, thinking they weren't fit as a topic to ease everyone back into the blog. Eventually, I thought I'd share with you something that was easily love at first wear - the Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Mademoiselle. 

I have wanted this lipstick since I was sixteen, before Chanel reformulated the Rouge Coco range and before I could even think of stepping near a Chanel counter. I even had the lipstick number memorized (05 pre-reformulation, 434 post). It's kind of crazy, right? I forgot where I first saw a swatch of this beautiful colour, but as soon as I did I pegged it as my dream lipstick. 

Seven years and an impulse buy later - I am an impulse buyer when stressed! - I went home with this after visiting Duty Free. I may have had to access a few extra hundred pesos to scrape it but I have never been so happy with a make-up purchase in a long time.

Mademoiselle is described by Chanel as a 'warm rosewood'. To me its a dark, rosy pink with subtle brown tones to ground it. It is a colour that exudes sophistication and elegance - something that really lives up to its name. It swatches darker than it appears on the tube, but on my lips it definitely appears as a muted, rosy dark pink. It is slightly warm so do take note if you're more partial to cooler tones!

I tried it on as soon as I photographed it (knowing I'd do this post in the future - good job past me) and knew it was going to be a lifelong affair. I've worn it on an almost weekly basis, and somedays realize that I've worn it for three or four consecutive days. That's a pretty big feat considering I do like switching my make-up daily, and a clear indicator that I've fallen hard for it!

The formula is lightweight despite multiple layers, and is non-drying even after 4 hours. My lips are usually parched and begging for lip balm at that point, so I'm always pleasantly surprised when my lips are still soft. The colour lasts about 4 hours as well, but will not withstand eating and drinking. I can't say it stains considering the colour is so close to my natural lip colour, but this was something I was prepared for anyway. 

Excuse my expression -I just came home from fixing some misunderstanding that could have possibly deterred me from graduating. Also, excuse the eyebrows! I know, I'm due for a thread soon.

I usually pair this lipstick with really simple make-up - a clean base, defined lashes, a hint of dusty rose blush and sometimes some eyeliner. I find that it also pairs well with neutral eyes both shimmery and matte. I've yet to try it with my favourite gold eye look but I'd imagine it look fantastic as well!

I purchased this for USD 32 at Duty Free. It retails for PHP 1650 at Chanel counters and USD 36 in places like Nordstrom and Chanel counters in the US. Definitely on the pricey side considering its by Chanel, but if you're looking for a rosy pink lipstick and have the opportunity to splurge, I highly recommend you check this out!

What about you - have you tried this lipstick, or other lipsticks from the Rouge Coco line? Do you know of any similar colours? I'm all ears, feel free to leave me a comment below!

Friday, June 03, 2016

The new lipstick favourite: Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle

By Pauline Read More

TRAVEL: Choco-late de Batirol

I know you're all probably sick of another Baguio travel post, so I thought I would do a feature of the places I frequent in the summer capital instead. Since I've been going to Baguio so frequently, there is really little for me left to explore, resulting to me looking forward to a routine instead. One of those routines is, as soon as we check-in and have lunch, is to walk all the way to my family's favourite merienda place.

Choco-late de Batirol has been in Igorot Park of Camp John Hay for as long as I can remember. From the outside alone, you can tell it's going to be more on the laid-back, cozy type which perfectly suits the atmosphere in Baguio. It's also a great change from the usual (insert coffee shop of choice here).

The picture before the cut is one that I took leaving the place. In a way one might classify it as 'hipster', though this has always been their layout, I think!

I will warn you now that this place gets packed very easily, especially during the holidays. It's best to allow yourself maybe 15-20 minutes waiting time before being seated, or to come early in the morning to avoid the big crowds.

No aircon here, not that you need it! The interiors are a collection of wooden furniture which I guess to be locally-made and locally-sourced. The different little capiz lanterns scattered about add an airy feel to the place. I also love that the place is surrounded by greenery, which I find to be very energizing but calming at the same time. A very interesting feeling, in my opinion!

I normally spend a good hour to hour and a half here, sipping my hot chocolate and catching up with my cousins. As everything is homemade and cooked from scratch, waiting time is considerably longer than your usual coffee shop. Something to keep in mind in case you're with hyper and very hungry children.

Hot chocolate is definitely one of the things to try here! None of than overly sweet, Swiss Miss-type (though there is a time and place for it). Instead, you get a slightly bitter but very warming cup that goes wonderfully with any of their sweet desserts, such as my favourite suman sa lihia. Anything sticky with tons of shaved coconut and muscovado sugar is a winner in my book. 

They also serve meals and other snacks such as bibingka, in case you're looking for something other than their usual hot chocolate. The best part is that it's not overly expensive. I would say a person would generously spend about P200-250! I'll definitely update this post with the menu as well as current prices when I return. 

At night, they do have live music, which I really enjoyed. The singer at the time was very interactive with the audience, asking for song requests and even volunteers from the audience to have a duet with him! It's worth mentioning that the sound system was also very good - no choppy sounds or static play. 

I hope you enjoyed this short post as much as I liked reliving my experience. Have you guys tried Choco-late de Batirol? Leave me a comment below!

Sunday, February 28, 2016

TRAVEL: Choco-late de Batirol

By Pauline Read More