I remember before, when I was really young ( around post-highschool, somewhere my product explorations stage, I think, around collegetime ), that I’d go around beauty counters and chance upon Clinique. The brand just looked so classy, and so clean to me, and the word “Clinique,” would leave me wondering, is this a brand by a dermatologist, because it sounds so “clinical,” and almost promise me instantaneous results! But then, college-Sophie was a saving Sophie, dependent on allowance that she could not afford an entire line of Clinique products. But then, during my senior year, I think I was really saving good money then and having a small sideline, I was able to buy my mom a pot of Clinique’s All About Eyes as a gift for her undereye care. It was her first eye cream, as no one in the household used eye creams, and she was very low maintenance. Needless to say it was the first ever eye cream in our household, and it jumpstarted our habit of applying eye creams ever since!

Anyway, fast forward to today, I see Clinique as a brand that does not only look good in terms of reputation ( lots of raves about this brand, read glossies, ask people, google it up ) and delivers as. When I read their brochure that says that when they test their products on their subjects, only one allergic reaction would prompt them to reformulate. That is their unique standpoint, and I love it. It means so much to me that companies really strive to bring out the best then can in products, and to keep everyone happy. Clinique also strikes me right now as efficient skin care and makeup products, as not only are you having good skin with their products, your skin still gets to breathe with their makeup, and the result is natural-looking skin. Well, I can go on and on with my respect for this brand, but let me share with you my two favorite Clinique products :
Continue reading

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post

I’ve long professed my love for Covergirl Lip Perfection lipsticks, and I believe that I’ve purchase alot of their shades!

Let me share to you one of my favorite lippies as of late, Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Kiss.

As I’ve been on the lookout for that perfect, pearly light peach shade of lipstick that I used to admire in a brochure of a skin care brand, I believe I’ve found my perfect pearly peach lippie.

In daylight, light-reflecting pearly elements from this shade cause some reflection, and make my lips bright and happy. I deem it most gorgeous, as it really makes my lips stand out without the bright colors necessary to do so. I just love this shade that I feel it’s so me, and it’s nice enough to wear on a daily basis. A major plus is Covergirl‘s winning lipstick formula – ultra moisturizing, and yet it stays on the lips. Although it doesn’t live up to its name ( it doesn’t look like I’ve been kissed. Hahaha! ), I’m totally happy with the shade!

Oh, I encourage girls who love peach lipsticks to try this one! This MUST be my favorite shade amongst all the colors from the Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks!

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post

For a week already, I’ve been complaining about a really painful left shoulder. Sigh. My body is just a nodule-magnet ( lamig, in Filipino terms ). I get nodules easily, as my body absorbs outside elements like the cold easily. Whenever raindrops fall on my shoulders, my shoulders become so painful that it takes a really hot (not sure if you can tolerate what I usually do) shower and Tiger Balm to soothe it out. I get these kinds of pain often that whenever I go to Singapore, I hoard around 12 tubes of Tiger Balm Muscle Boost that I usually bring with me in my handbag or during trips.

Anyway, going back to my shoulder, as I was experiencing really bad pain from the moment I wake up (not a good way to start the day, methinks), and the pain in my shoulder is amplified when I go to a cold place ( or even be in an airconditioned room is plain torture to me), I decided to book a massage at Zense Taipei. Zense Taipei, in my opinion, is the best massage place in Banawe, though I think it is the most expensive one in Banawe, with prices of massage in Banawe ranging from 250-500 max. Continue reading

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post

For the longest time, I’ve been on the search for the lightest moisturizer or hydrator for the skin. You all know that I’m not totally crazy about rich and creamy products, I like them watered down. Like really watered down. Okay, if there would be a magic hydrator/moisturizer that is in water form, like WATER form, I would be the happiest person in this planet. Consider it included in my prayers and wishes in the name of beauty.

And I can’t believe that my prayers have been answered, and my search for my ultimate perfect moisturizer is over this soon!

Continue reading

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post

my latest favorite skin care discovery!
For the longest time, I’ve been on the search for the lightest moisturizer or hydrator for the skin. You all know that I’m not totally crazy about rich and creamy products, I like them watered down. Like really watered down. Okay, if there would be a magic hydrator/moisturizer that is in water form, like WATER form, I would be the happiest person in this planet. Consider it included in my prayers and wishes in the name of beauty.

And I can’t believe that my prayers have been answered, and my search for my ultimate perfect moisturizer is over this soon!

This green potion is not a witch’s brew. Oh well, maybe it is!
Now I found this gem inside my dermatologist’s office. My dermatologist Marledi Dizon (please take note that I am not in any way paid to endorse her as I seem to be with all my praises for her here – she really is my favorite, reliable dermatologist!) is always so generous in giving me skin care samples that she carries for me to roadtest. I was able to try and eventually commit to a full-size of Skinwithin Defend & Restore Sunblock thanks to her letting me try it at her office, and my M2 Skin Refinish (previously called MaMa Lotion) craze began when she handed me a mini sample. Just this recently, she handed me a cute baby bottle of Aceuticals Phytoextract Lightening Serum , which is a serum that she highly recommends. It’s actually a serum that is enriched with arbutin, a natural lightener, that addresses pigmentation problems and brightens the face. Some lighteners that I’ve seen in the ingredients from the bottle include kojic acid and licorice. It also has botanicals like thyme and fruit extracts that soothe and hydrate the skin. She tells me that she loves it so much that she uses it as her only moisturizer prior to applying makeup, and she’s good for the day! Wow, that intrigued me so I took home the baby bottle with me to try.

Well, Aceuticals Phytoextract Lightening Serum looks like a green potion ( and I hope it would turn me into Rosie Huntington-Whiteley hahahaha! ), and believe me when I say that it is in water form. No, not gel, not cream, not even slimy water-like substance. It is in water form. Water form. Water form. Okay I need to stop saying it to be able to believe it. It really is in water form! Oh, my perfect moisturizer! I can live with this!

Now, how does this fare on me? Every morning, after cleansing, and toning my face, I apply around 5 drops of this serum on my face. It’s like applying colored water on my face, and like water, it takes awhile to dry on the skin so I have to wait a little before applying my sunblock. The result is grease-free ( absolutely! ) skin that doesn’t oil up during the day ( it’s truee!!! )

Sold at P3,500.00, it doesn’t come in cheap, but I’m willing to purchase this bottle over and over again as this must be my idea of a perfect moisturizer according to my personal taste. I would recommend this to lotion/cream-product phobic girls like me who would want their skin hydrated without getting greasy. This is also good for those who have pimple marks in which the ingredients can help you address those dark areas. This is also great for those who have acne prone skin, when every anti-acne product makes your skin really dry and flaky, and every creamy product breaks you out. This is THE product for that!

Oh, I am boldly claiming that the best skin care products are housed in every dermatologist’s office!

*Aceuticals Phytoextract Lightening Serums are available at your local dermatologist. If not, email me at sophieuyblogs at gmail dot com, and I can give you my dermatologist’s contact number.

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post

As I love organic bath products so much, let me just say that I’m a huge Venus and Mars Naturals fan. I’ve seen them grow from a startup brand joining bazaars into a skin care brand that people really trust. Their unique ingredient, emu oil, is indeed a wonder oil that it has countless benefits, being anti-inflammatory, and a wound-healing ingredient. It also does not clog pores, which is great for acne-prone skin.

As Emu Oil (rare as it is as its source is from Australia ) is a wonder ingredient in skin care, Venus and Mars have formulated their products revolving around this wonder ingredient. They have hair products, soaps, and body products. I’ve been using their line for sometime now, and let me introduce to you to a new love of mine – their Bare It All Emu Cream. Continue reading

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post

I’m so blessed to have been given the chance to meet not only beautiful people in the blogosphere, but also those who have beautiful personalities. One of my happy finds this year is the very cute beauty blogger Marj Sia, who never fails to crack me up on Twitter with her jokes and quotable quotes, but I also really admire her for her passion for makeup and how she carries herself. She must be the ideal kawaii baby-faced beauty blogger I know!

Anyway, as she is holding another makeup workshop, let me invite you to join her this October for a basic makeup workshop. All details can be found here. Woops, did you see the Charm Essentials Logo over there? Yes, we are one of the sponsors, and you will know what part we play in the workshop as you register and attend her workshop.

Anyway, I hope you do register and have fun in Marj’s workshop!

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post

I’ve been reading alot of good things about The Balm Cosmetics in the blogosphere, and even on Twitter, that their cosmetics are formulated without parabens, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, synthetic dyes, and triclosan – controversial ingredients that might pose health risks in the name of beauty in the future. Well, in times like these, everything is just so progressive, and even ingredients that have long been used for a product’s performance are well-studied, and are given health-friendly alternatives. The Balm is one of the brands who dares go beyond conventional makeup ingredients and stands up with their healthier ingredient substitutes to cater those who are also aware, and conscious about the ingredients in everything they use.

I myself am appreciative of these efforts done by companies, as I have read in The Hormone Diet book that some ingredients actually affect our hormones, and ultimately the way we act, and our health, so I myself got curious with The Balm Cosmetics. It’s a great thing, then, that we have The Balm Cosmetics as one of the brands The Beauty Bar carries. The first product that I am reviewing, is one of the products that people who have oily skin, fine lines, sunk pores, and depressed scars use. Yes, a face primer. I’m reviewing The Balm’s Time Balm Primer.

Why Do We Need Face Primers?
Continue reading

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post

In all my years of beauty blogging, let me just express how grateful, and how lucky I am to have found a bunch of beautiful ladies that I can share my nonstop beauty babbles with, as well as share things outside beauty blogging. I’ve found good friends amongst girls who shared common interests with me, and I couldn’t be happier!

With our occasional dinners, drinks, would you believe that we never talk about our site traffic, hits, and blogging-related technicalities? Yes, we’re not really the competitive kind. We want peaceful coexistence, no one’s a shark, everyone’s just a friend. It’s just really nice!

So imagine the fun, the crazy laughs and banters shared back and forth during our bonding session last weekend at Tagaytay?

What we did, let me show you :

( and oh, please, by all means, laugh at me, as I brought my full gear – my DLSR and two lenses, and FORGOT MY BATTERY. Boo, so these photos are grabbed from the girls who had cameras, I felt naked without a camera! )

We stayed at Hotel Dominique in Tagaytay. It’s simple, basic accommodations but they do have a nice pool. The rooms are not soundproof, though! ( But we’re too noisy! hahaha! ). Our accommodations were alright.

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post

You might be surprised that I am posting pictures of my nails, as I do not do that often. First, my nails have always been short, and my nailbed is not as spacious as other lucky girls, and second, my nails are brittle. Okay, you know the reason. But from time to time, I do enjoy my nail-pampering moments because I am actually appreciative of beautiful shades nail companies come up with.

It was one fateful day when Digitaltraincase ( an online superstore with tons of good beauty brands ) announced that she was selling UK nailpolish brand A-England , as her link with swatches made curious me click on the link and read on. Oh, how I started to adore the shades that A-England has come up with! One shade that I have particularly eyed on was Iseult.

If you’re into Arthurian legends or stories from English literature, you’ll instantly recall that Iseult is from “Tristan and Iseult”. Tristan falls in love with Irish princess Iseult who was already promised to the king, and the tale goes on..( these were my bedtime stories when I was in fourth year highschool. I had a phase when I loved mythology and legends )

Okay, going back. What made me purchase this shade? Well, Iseult is a beautiful, beautiful white shade, with a very very light influence of pink. We can call it a very pale pink. The shade, when applied on my nails, looks very clean, and very dainty. For me, I find it to be such a feminine and classy shade. The shade is also filled with fine, fine shimmers, that sets it apart from regular nude/pale shades. I find the very subtle microshimmers make the color pop out and give it more dimension.

Wearing Iseult definitely makes me feel like a princess because of its classy factor. I find this shade very very wearable, and very, very pretty. Another thing I love about it is that the formula is very impressive – it’s been four days, and no chipping occurred even if I kept on scraping stuff here and there ( yes, I am a careless person, I usually have my nailpolish chipped by day two )

Well, I am just so happy that I have taken a leap of faith and got this bottle! I highly recommend this as the shade is very versatile and feminine, and the formula’s just extraordinary ( even better than OPI ) that it doesn’t chip for a long time. I think that A-England’s Iseult will be a staple in my bag whenever I’d go for a manicure or pedicure, as I don’t think I’ll be tired of this shade everytime soon. It’s timeless, just like Tristan and Iseult‘s story.

*A-England nailpolishes are available locally at Digital Traincase. Go get one and let me know what you think!

Blogsphere: TechnoratiFeedsterBloglines
Bookmark: Del.icio.usSpurlFurlSimpyBlinkDigg
RSS feed for comments on this post  |  TrackBack URI for this post