Cosmetics: Return and Exchange

All along, I thought that we cannot return or exchange makeup we bought that have something wrong with them and/or does not meet our standards. Last Sunday, I bought a tube of Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express Mascara at SM North EDSA Department Store. I usually get my Maybelline fix in Landmark Trinoma (who has the nicest BAs that let me hover and check out their products without following me around or looking at me like I'm going to steal). Yeah, I hate it whenever sales people watch my every move, and whenever that happens, no matter how much I love the product, I would never buy it from that place. Because I was lazy to walk to Trinoma, I bought from the Department Store in SM (something I would never do again).

I got a tube of this Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express Mascara. I was so excited and happy because it was just P249.00! Maybelline has been my HG brand for mascaras and other cosmetics. If you peek into my kit, majority of the products are from Maybelline. I opened it and found the mascara formula to be dry, with a consistency of a mascara that has been opened for 5 to 6 months. I let my sister check it, as she has used tubes of this same mascara (before it was marked down from P399.00), and she agreed with me. I went back last Tuesday to the counter to have it replaced, but the BA said that it was a new stock and that the formula was really like that. She said that it was manufactured February 2011 (as marked by the sticker on the price tag).


When I checked it at home, I saw the true manufacturing date which was November 8, 2010. I wish that the BA just made an honest mistake and that she really meant that this stock arrived February 2011 to their store shelf. Really, I don't care even if it was manufactured last year as long as it worked fine.


So that Tuesday, I asked for this to be replaced, but the BA did not want to because she said there was nothing wrong with this. I had to seek Maybelline's help through their Facebook page and hotline, and they advised me that if a product did not meet my standards, I could really have it replaced. They told me to try having it replaced at the same counter (within 7 days from the receipt of purchase). I like their fan page. The admin was really nice, and the page is really interactive in that members and the admin interact with each other all the time.

Today, I went there again to have the mascara exchanged. Sorry I had to name drop and say that "the head office already knew about this" and the BA immediately replaced the mascara without any question. However, the replacement stock was just the same. I don't know if there is something wrong with me, or with the mascara, but I really did not like it. I even showed it to the lady on the customer service counter and she said 'Ay bakit ganyan?" upon looking at the formula. In the end, I returned the mascara and decided to just use the P249.00 (in the form of a receipt) returned to me (that I had to consume within the day). I decided to go for Covergirl! :D This one was P625.00, less 10% because SM had a one-day sale today for SM Advantage Card/BDO Reward Card members.


Lesson learned, you don't have to settle for something that you feel shortchanged for! As long as the reason is valid, you can have it exchanged for something better. :)

On a lighter note, what mascara do you currently use? :)

Love,
Helen

e.l.f. Eyeshadow Brush

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, the product I will review is the famous e.l.f. Eyeshadow Brush. According to the Youtube gurus, this one is either a hit or miss, because for $1.00 you can't be assured of its quality. Well, here in the Philippines, the regular line of e.l.f. cosmetics and tools are at P129.75 each (except for the Studio Line which is P249.75 and for the palettes and sets). It's still affordable so it's a great brand to try especially if you're just starting to practice putting on makeup (or are bored and just want a little thing to perk you up). I got this eyeshadow brush months ago (together with my e.l.f. Total Face Brush) so here's my review.

e.l.f. says:

Expertly blends multiple eye shades while softening dramatic edges and fine lines

Brush can also multitask, use it to set powder or liquid concealer

While this brush works great for applying eyeshadow, I don't think it is for blending or setting of liquid concealers.

Pros:

• Minimal shedding. It just shed 1 or 2 pieces of hair upon the first wash.
• No bleeding upon the first wash.
• The length of the bristles give adequate control when it comes to picking up eyeshadow.
• The bristles pack the right amount of color/pigment.
• The bristles are not too rough or scratchy. But don't expect it to be soft because of its price.
• The brush handle is not too short or too long, it's just right.
• Even if it is not $1.00 (or P45.00) here, it is still inexpensive compared to high-end brands.

Cons:

• The inconsistent quality that other buyers have experienced. I hope that the silver part of the brush does not break off from its handle.
• When cleaning, I find it hard to squeeze out and thoroughly remove the shampoo that I used to clean this brush.

Will I repurchase? Yes. This is one of the most inexpensive tools you can find that is worthy of repurchase.

Price: P129.75

Available in leading department stores.

Love,

Helen

Finess Oil Control Sheet

Oil blotting sheets have been a staple in my kit since I was in high school due to my super oily skin. Even if I go out bare-faced, by mid-day, I would already have a shiny face. Boo! It was just this year that I shifted from my trusted oil control film to oil control sheets (made from paper) just because I wanted to save money.

Finess Oil Control Sheet's packaging is so pretty! I'm on my second pack now.

Finess Oil Control Sheet effectively removes dirt and oil from skin, leaving your face fresh and shine-free. It's handy and convenient to bring anywhere for instant clean-ups of face anytime. It's ideal for cleaning eyeglasses and camera lens as well.

Directions: Gently pat the oil control sheet in face (specially on the forehead and nose areas) to absorb oil and dirt. Instantly feel refreshed and oil-free.

Finess Shine-Free Pearlized Oil Control Sheet was the first pack I bought.

This has gold specks on the sheet, but don't worry, it won't transfer to your face.

My repurchase: Finess Oil Control Sheet with Printed Design. I wondered what the printed design is.

This one has its opening at the back.

Ta-da! It's sky blue with animal prints. Totally cute!

Pros:

• It is super inexpensive!
• It's more environment-friendly because it is made of paper, not plastic films.
• It has a smooth texture.
• It does its job of removing oils from your face without leaving your skin dry.
• It does not wipe off the makeup you have applied.
• This product is a multitasker. It can also clean eyeglass lens and camera lens.

Cons:

• It is not durable, as it has the tendency to tear when blotting super oily skin. (It happened to me!)
• One sheet may not be enough to blot off excess oils.

Would I repurchase? Yes.
Price: P39.00 for 100 sheets
Available in Watsons and Beauty by SM.

Do you also use oil control sheets?

Love,
Helen

Maybelline Clear Smooth BB Cream

Blemish Balm Cream, better known as BB Cream, is now the craze in the world of cosmetics. What once was made by dermatologists in Germany for patients who have undergone laser treatments was discovered by Korean celebrities, where they used it as makeup. Koreans are famous for their flawless and glowing skin, and their rigorous skin-care routine which goes beyond cleansing, toning, and moisturizing, plus the BB Cream is the reason behind it.

There are lots of different brands of BB Cream out in the market, and for starters, we would want one that works and is affordable. This is when Maybelline comes into the picture!

Maybelline Clear Smooth BB Cream is an all-in-one product. It's a moisturizer, sunblock, and a light liquid foundation. It contains 8 healthy minerals for 8 healthy skin results, giving you flawless skin in an instant!

Moisturizes like skin care: Oil-free formula keeps skin hydrated for up to 24 hours
Protects like sunblock: SPF 26/PA+++ protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays
Covers like a foundation: Hides flaws and imperfections without feeling heavy on the skin.

Maybelline Clear Smooth BB Cream is dermatologist tested and suitable even for sensitive skin.

I'm on my second tube now, so it's time for a review!

This BB Cream has a watery texture, so it's definitely non-sticky.

Blending the BB Cream

At first, there was a grayish cast, like all BB Creams, but give it a few minutes, and it blends to your skin tone.

Pros:

• I have oily skin, and I find this BB Cream to be moisturizing enough. Sometimes, when I feel lazy, I skip moisturizing and this BB Cream works just as fine.
• I like that it has SPF 26/PA+++.
• It evened out my skin tone and reduced the redness of my acne marks. It made my imperfect skin look glowing and smooth!
• No breakouts here. (Well, my small pimples are still there, but this did not add to the problem.)
• I am fine with its watery texture; I feel that anything creamy would feel heavy on my face.
• No more problems with the "one shade fits all" BB Cream like before, because now, 2 shades are available: Fresh for fair skin and Natural for darker skin.

Cons:

• You have to control the amount while squeezing the tube, or else you'd end up with too much BB Cream.
• Its brightening effect wears off after 4 to 5 hours. It's best to use a pressed powder to set the BB Cream after application.
• It had a lot of different types of parabens on the ingredients list.

Tips:

• Dot the BB Cream on your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin then blend outwards.
• Top of with pressed or loose powder to make it last and to adjust the color (if needed).

Do you want to try this BB Cream first before purchasing? Well, you're in luck! Visit http://begeraldsgirl.com and create your own BB Cream commercial. You'll be Gerald Anderson's leading lady! :> When you do, you'll receive a text coupon for a free BB Cream sample which you can claim in the malls listed here: http://begeraldsgirl.com/site/stores.

This was the photo souvenir I got from the website. I used Maybelline's BB Cream in this photo. :)

Thanks for the free BB Cream samples, Maybelline!

Would I repurchase? Yes. I am on my second tube already!
Price: P249.00 for 18ml
Available in SM Department Store, Robinsons Department Store, Landmark Department Store, Gaisano Metro Department Store, Watsons, PCX, Mercury Drug Stores (selected), Puregold Supermarkets (selected), Shopwise Supermarkets (selected), Robinsons Supermarkets (selected), and Sundance Direct Sales.

What BB Cream are you currently using? :)

Love,
Helen

PLDT myDSL’s Internet to Sawa TRANSFORMS my Internet experience from Zero to Hero!

Here's a great news PLDT myDSL subscribers would be delighted to know! If you are a Plan 3000 subscriber, then you'd be getting a FREE upgrade to up to 5Mbps from your previous 3Mbps speed! If you think that's great already, there's more! You will also get Watchpad with even more exclusive content, and 1 year of FREE PLDT to PLDT NDD calls.

Visit www.myworldmydsl.com for more information or call 171 to confirm your subscription today!

PLDT myDSL’s Internet to Sawa TRANSFORMS my Internet experience from Zero to Hero!

In line with this transformation, I'd also like to share my experience, my transformation from being a regular blogger to being a Nuffnanger. I created my blog way back last June 24, 2010 (almost a year ago), but I did not take it seriously and just left it there to die. Hehe. It was only this year, February 27, 2011, that I relaunched it and started blogging formally. I was fixing the template and designing it so it would look more professional and personalized. Then I came across Nuffnang! I was so curious of how it would be like to do what I love (writing), while earning some extra bucks from hosting ads on my site. I signed up and at the very first time I saw an ad unit on my blog, I felt so ecstatic and excited, I had to show it to my family! Haha! :D Well, Nuffnang isn't just a place for ads. Nuffnang also provides an avenue wherein its community members can interact with each other. They sponsor events so Nuffnangers can all get together and get to know each other more in real life, and also fun contests that give us healthy competition and inspires us to be better bloggers. I'm so happy to be a Nuffnanger. :)

You too can transform with PLDT and Nuffnang!

Love,
Helen

Mentholatum LipIce Lip Balm

My first makeup addiction was lip balm. I remember when I was a kid, my cousin gave me a chocolate-flavored Avon lipbalm and I kinda ate it. Well not really ate, but I put it on my lips and licked it off all the time. Haha! :D I remember buying my very own lip balm when I was in Grade 5, and it was a strawberry-flavored ChapStick. Then came my interest with lip gloss, which then evolved to lipstick.

Lately I have been looking for a lip balm with SPF, since I commute to work and get exposed to the sun a lot. Last week, I bought Mentholatum LipIce Lip Balm in Grape Blackcurrant and I'm so happy with my purchase!

Mentholatum LipIce Lip Balm in Grape Blackcurrant (P89.00 for 3.5g)

About LipIce Lip Balm:

Mentholatum LipIce contains SPF 15 to give extra protection for lips against harmful sunray. Cooling, moisturising, relief for dry chapped lips all year round.

I love the simple but cute packaging.

What I love about it:

• I'm so loving the cute packaging.
• The expiry date is printed at the bottom of the tube.
• It smells like yummy grape candy, but it leaves no weird taste on the lips.
• Upon application, it gives a cooling effect on lips for about 5 minutes.
• It has SPF 15 which protects lips from darkening.
• It is moisturizing enough without being waxy.
• It has a clear finish.
• You can use this as base for drying matte lipsticks.
• It is very affordable!

Would I repurchase? A big YES! I'll try other flavors of this!

Price: P89.00 for 3.5g

Available at Watsons and Beauty by SM.

What lip balm do you use? :)

Love,

Helen

Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (MAFBEX) 2011

Last weekend, my friend and I went to MAFBEX at World Trade Center. I remember going here last year with my friend and I was hoping to find the Chrysanthemum Tea I bought (which came in a bulb and opens when you put it in a cup of hot water) for Papa as Father's Day gift. Well there was none, but nevertheless, I got to know and try out many interesting food there. :)

My ticket to food tripping (P50.00)

Lambalites (I like the strawberry-flavored one!)

I saw the Eng Bee Tin stall and so excited, I forgot to take a pic!
Hopia Mochaccino (P44.00)
Hopia Mongo (P36.00)
Mochi in Choco-Orange (P32.00)

There were lots of food carts and stalls selling snacks, and we chose Noodle House.

An order of noodles + 2 pieces of siomai is only P28.00. Add P10.00 for a cup of ice-cold black gulaman. Yum!

I love this milk chocolate fountain! It's so fun to dip biscuit sticks in this. I wish I had one at home, but it's so expensive (around P30,000.00).

Cute purple chocolate fountain. This one is ube-flavored.

White chocolate fountain!

There were lots of stalls selling frozen food at promo rates.

The nice lady from Talleres de Nazaret

She sells yummy Squid Rings and Squid Heads at P40.00 a pack.

Cute!

A no-blade fan for P6,800.00. Very interesting and kid-friendly.

Pretty cakes were displayed as well. This one's from the Cake Decorating Competition.

I never knew there was a Shakey's bus! You can rent this when you want Shakey's to come to your party!

The friendly peeps of Ehje's Peanut Butter (Ms. Ehje, the owner, is at the middle)

These are home-made peanut butters that are so yummy! I got this at 3 for P100.00. One for Papa, 2 for Grandma. Ehje's also supplies the same of peanut butter to French Baker and Julie's Bakeshop, the only difference is that they come in glass jars for those stores as compared to this plastic cups.

Outside the selling area were displays of table arrangements. This one caught my eye because of its pretty red and pink theme.

After our food-tripping and shopping at MAFBEX, we went to SM Mall of Asia to have dinner. We had a bucket of KFC Crispy Fries and Greenwich Special. Fast food is evil.

KFC Crispy Fries

Greenwich Special

After dinner, we watched X-Men First Class. I had no background of X-Men and what it was all about. Before watching the movie, we had this conversation:

Helen: Sino ba si X-Men? Ano yung costume niya?
Friend: X-Men yung tawag sa grupo nila.
Helen: Ah! Kaya pala x-MEN!

Haha! :)) Now I know. After watching the movie, I became a fan!

I hope you enjoyed my little story. :D

Love,
Helen

Happy Father's Day, Papa!

Today is a very special day because it's Father's Day!

Papa with my cutie little niece, Daphne! She always smiles whenever Papa carries her. :)

One big and happy family! See the girls vs. boys ratio. Haha!

Papa is one tough man. He may not show his affection thru hugs and words, but I believe that there are other ways in which he shows that he cares for me more than anyone else can. I think that the last time he hugged me for real was when I was a kid, but being Chinese I think that it's kind of normal for fathers to be not so affectionate and touchy. Until now, my sisters and I sometimes chase him and hug him before he goes to his room to sleep! Haha! :) One cute thing that Papa does is that he buys us a big birthday cake (even if no one is celebrating their birthday) just because he does not want us to be hungry at home (he's so sweet!). Whenever we go out, he would tell us to buy anything we like, but he would not buy anything for himself. He always sacrifices his luxuries just to be able to give us a good life. When I look at his graying hair, his tired but smiling eyes, and his strong and rough hands, I see the most successful man there is. This man held me the day I was born, and I know that forever, I'll still be his little girl. I'm proud of my dad because he is a good provider, and he is able to raise our family so well. I know someday, I could also provide for him and he would not have to work anymore. I am so proud of him, and I wonder if I can also make him proud someday. I love you, Papa! Happy Father's Day! :)

I hope you all enjoyed your day. Happy Father's Day to your Daddy, too! :)

Love,
Helen

Super Bowl of China

Last weekend, I had lunch at SM Megamall with my boss. We were craving for noodles, and she told me about Super Bowl of China's crispy noodles at 50% off. Now that intrigued me! We both went to Super Bowl of China, and despite many people dining there, we were seated immediately on the couch seats (I love just couch seats in restaurants!).

Lovely menu cover

While we were deciding what food to order, the crew there gave us unlimited kropek. Yey! But I think this was also the reason why I got full and was not able to finish our food.

Hooray for unlimited kropek! This one reminded me of light, salty chips and Chowking's Chicharap, but this one is better.

Here's what we ordered:

Crispy Noodles w/ Assorted Seafood (P250.00)
Crispy fried egg noodles smothered with cuttlefish, boneless fish fillet, shrimp, other seafood, mixed vegetables, and mixed mushrooms in a clear, light seafood sauce.

We got this for only P125.00 (50% off) because there was an ongoing promo. It was my first time to try crispy noodles. Silly me, I thought that the noodles will be eaten crispy the whole time. I then realized that the warm sauce will make the noodles softer. Then again, I'm not a big fan of sauce (any kind of sauce really, even gravy!), so I just tasted a bit of this. I like my food really dry! Dry noodles (like pancit canton and bihon) are my personal preference, but my boss seemed to enjoy this dish! I like that they don't scrimp on the seafood toppings. And this order is huge for its (promo) price - definitely good for sharing.

Golden Shanghai Chicken (P230.00)
Golden boneless chicken fillets sauteed in onion oil, garlic, garden-fresh red and green bell peppers and drenched in a mildly sweet and tasty special Shanghai sauce.

I love chicken, and this one had a unique taste because of the Shanghai sauce. I liked that the chicken fillets were tasty and weren't dry. Yummy dish!

Yang Chow Fried Rice (P210.00)

Last but not the least, Yang Chow Fried Rice! In any Chinese restaurant I go to, I definitely have to order this to make my meal complete. I could eat this all day. :D

All the dishes were ordered were good for sharing, and we had some leftovers for takeout, too. The ambiance was nice and clean, the food was delicious (and without MSG), and the service was good. Two thumbs up! :)

Do you like Chinese food, too?

Love,
Helen