Lullabies and Lippies

Make-Up Junkie Turned Mommy

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It’s no secret: I love online shopping. In fact, that’s how I do most of my shopping these days! I mean, really, what can’t you get over the Internet? A lot of times too, you score even better deals online than you do at the mall! Sites such as, say, Zalora and Lazada – sometimes, the deals they offer you are really ridiculous!

So, let’s see, no sitting in traffic, no long queues at the cashier, and huge discounts. The best part about online shopping? You can totally do it at home, in your pajamas.

But what if I told you, you could also get paid to shop online? Nope, I haven’t gone completely bonkers (yet!)

Let me explain - it’s this new site I’ve just discovered called ShopBack, a Singaporean site that just recently launched in the Philippines. Basically, it’s a site that gives you access to the best deals in hundreds of online stores – stores which include Zalora, Lazada, and Ensogo. Aside from the usual deals you get from these sites, ShopBack gives you additional discount in the form of cashback! Where’d the cashback come from? That’s really just ShopBack sharing with us a portion of the commission it earns from their partner online shops. I mean, it’s practically the same thing as being paid to shop, right?

Say, just yesterday, I was able to score a good deal on Lazada for two (2) Nextbook 8GB Tablets for only PHP4,799. And since ShopBack offers a 6% cashback on these items, I received PHP273 in my account which I chose to redeem via bank deposit (PayPal is another option!) Effectively, I paid only PHP4,526 for two tablets. Two. TWO! That’s less than PHP2,300 a piece! I know, saying it out loud sounds crazy! Head on over to their site to check out all Lazada promotions and discount codes, and gain access to cashback!

It’s the easiest thing – just log on to your ShopBack account, click on to any one of their partner online shops, then shop as you normally would!




You can easily track your total earnings by viewing your Cashback Summary. The summary also tells you when exactly and how much you can already redeem from your account. Pretty nifty, right?




Try it to believe it! Just sign up thru my link shopback.ph/heynicoleyu and instantly get a PHP250 sign up bonus (broken down into P150 upon sign up and P100 after your first purchase). My makeup and travel-obsessed self loves Luxola and Agoda.com, but sometimes, I morph into a tita and gush over home & living accessories at Lazada! Online shopping made even better.

What will your first ShopBack purchase be? Let me know in the comments section below!

Happy shopping!

❤,
N





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I've been keeping a little secret - and I'm so excited to FINALLY be able to share it with you. Last Thursday, my first ever article as an official Zalora Community PH Contributor went live. :) Basically, it's the online magazine of Zalora PH for which I will regularly be writing articles (Saying it out loud still sounds crazy!!) Zalora Community PH features original and exclusive content on fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment from their online community. The way I see it - it's girls offering tips and sharing their experiences with other girls; girls helping one another. And that's always a good thing. :)



In the article, I talked about three (3) easy ways to update your makeup look from summer to fall. My philosophy on makeup is to wear whatever you want, whenever you want; no rules. Makeup should be fun, so you shouldn't feel compelled to stick strictly to the rules. Once in a while though, it is fun to follow trends. :) Get fall-ready with me here!

I can't wait to share my next articles with you, and of course, I'll still be doing separate posts here. :)

This whole thing still feels so surreal. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I hope you'll join me in this new adventure! :)



Your Zalora Community PH Contributor,
N ❤  


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One of my 2015 New Year Resolutions is to take better care of my skin. Happy to report that not only have I gotten my skincare regimen down to a T (which I talk about here), but I've also been quite religious about it! Another step I've taken is to trade in some of my make-up for new ones which are infused with skin-loving ingredients. I love it when brands do that - it almost feels like skincare and make-up in one, so it makes you look good and feel good. :) My pick for these types of products is Happy Skin Cosmetics.

Happy Skin is the brainchild of Proud Pinays Jacque Yuengtian-Gutierrez and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo whose promise was to bring us “best skin-caring make-up products.” Since its launch in October 2013, the brand has released an extensive line of products infused with healthy, skin-loving ingredients such as Shea Butter, Collagen, Argan Oil, Cherry Blossom Extracts, and Hyaluronic Acid.

My favorite item from their product line-up is their Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Lipstick of which I have quite a few shades. Actually, I have seven. I swear I haven’t gone crazy (yet), but they’re my absolute faves! They give you everything – moisture, shine, and color. Infused with Shea Butter and Collagen, these lippies sure keep your lips nice and nourished without compromising color payoff. Color payoff is insane! I find with most shades I have (and others which I’ve swatched in stores), one swipe is enough to give you an opaque color. (I’ll show you in the swatches down below!) I cannot stand the look and feel of dry lips underneath lipstick, so I usually apply lip balm first before going in with any lipstick. These, however, are so moisturizing that I find I’m able to skip the lip balm and just go straight in with this. I’m always, always rushing in the morning to leave for work, so I’m more than happy to be able to skip an extra step! The Shea Butter and the Collagen in these do something magical to your lips – they just glide on perfectly without accentuating dry patches or lines. I think the Collagen plumps up the lips so that the lines seem less obvious, making your lips look that much healthier. I get about a good three or four hours wear with these before I have to reapply, which I’d say is pretty good wear time for lipsticks this moisturizing! 



The line consists of an extensive color range from nudes to mauves to peaches to pinks to reds to plums to terracotta and to everything in between! Majority of these lipsticks come in a satin finish, so they provide a nice shine on your lips. Recently though, they've launched a matte formula which promises to be matte AND moisturizing at the same time! I usually stay away from mattes since I don't like the dryness that comes with it, but I am pumped to give these a whirl. :)

Another thing I love is the packaging on these. They come in a jumbo twist-up crayon form reminiscent of the Clinique Chubby Sticks which makes application so easy! Just putting it out there, too, that the packaging of the entire range of Happy Skin products is adorable with the quirkiest product names. Get this – they have a Don’t Get Mad, Get Even foundation, a Get Cheeky With Me blush, and a Make A Clean Sweep micellar make-up cleanser. Precious! Reminds me a lot of Benefit.

These lippies retail for about P549 to P649 each, depending on the shade you're getting. They're on the pricier side for local cosmetics, but for the quality you're getting, I think they're totally worth it. Happy Skin products are available at Plains and Prints stores nationwide, and also in select Rustans locations. I usually get mine in-store so I can try the products firsthand. If you prefer to do a little bit of research first and browse through other products, ZALORA offers many different make-up brands with skin-loving ingredients including Happy Skin. While I enjoy collecting make-up, I do do my homework first before actually purchasing them. See? I haven't gone completely bonkers. ;)


L-R: 1-Crushing On You, 2-The Morning After, 3-Style Icon, 4-Valentine Kiss, 5-24 Carat, 6-My First Time, 7-Red Carpet; all one swipe only. Multiple swipes done next to each other to make swatches more visible. Multiple swipes are done next to each other, never one on top of the other. :)
Valentine Kiss mixed with Crushing On You, blended in with my finger. No filter, in natural daylight. :)
Have you tried these lippies yet? What are your favorite shades?

❤, 
N

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In honor of National Lipstick Day today, I think it's only proper that I do a post on my favorite lipstick. Am I right or right? :)

But I'll be real with you all - I don't wear lipstick everyday. I prefer lip tints or balms just because they're so much easier to apply, super low-maintenance, and they feel nice and hydrating on the lips. If I do want to look a little bit more put-together though, I'll go for a nude pink lipstick. My favorite is the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy. 




When I was thinking of which lipstick to feature on this entry, I knew immediately that it was going to be this one. This lipstick gives me everything - color, shine, and moisture. The color is a nude pink with a subtle shimmer that I think just ties in your entire look - it's not too nude that it washes you out, nor not too pink that it catches your attention. It's quite sheer and a bit shiny, so it looks really natural. It's the perfect rosy MLBB for a fresh daytime look that can also be paired with a more dramatic smoky eye. If you're anything like me and cannot stand gritty shimmer on your lip products, FEAR NOT! The shimmers on this are so fine that you can't even really tell on your lips - you can just see a little bit in the tube. They're so fine that you can't feel them either. The texture on this is great too, it glides on your lips and feels moisturizing on. The thing with lipstick though is that the easier it glides on, the easier it comes off. I'll get a comfortable 3-4 hour wear on this before I have to re-apply. I don't really mind having to re-apply since it doesn't dry out my lips anyway even after several applications. My experience with a lot of lipsticks is that my lips feel a lot drier right before I re-apply because my lips are already dried out from the first application. I haven't experienced that with this one. The formula, texture, and color payoff of this reminds me a lot of the MAC Lustre lipsticks. Basically, it's a lipstick that feels like a lip balm!

The price tag on this is a little hefty, though. On the Chanel website, it says it costs $36.00. I purchased this from Duty Free at the Dubai International Airport some time ago, so I did get it tax-free. As pretty as this is, I don't think it's worth the full price, especially since I tend to favor lip balms over lipsticks on a day-to-day basis. Though, it is good to have a nude pink that goes with everything. So if you have a gift card, some points or coupons that you can use, or if you can get it tax-free at a Duty Free, this is a good one to pick up. Otherwise, save it - there will be other lipsticks out there, maybe even prettier - we just haven't found them yet!

Swatches below!


L-R: 3 swipes; 1 swipe only
Here's what it looks like on - one swipe only

What's your favorite lipstick? Or do you prefer lip balms too?

Happy National Lipstick Day!

❤,
N
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These days, my make-up routine is very basic. I literally do the same thing day after day after day after week after week after week. I've been focusing more on obsessed with skincare!

You know how they say it's always nice to switch things up to keep things interesting? The same could be said for one's skincare regimen! I think we all need to update our skincare regimen from time to time to keep it from plateauing and to make sure we adapt to our skin's changing needs.

Over the years, I've tried several skincare systems/products from Clinique to Bobbi Brown to Shu Uemura to Shiseido. I mean, they did work, for a while, but not as good as I had hoped for them to. And I wanted so so so bad for them to work their magic on me because they did cost a lot of money. The skincare angels must have heard my plea because I think I have finally found the skincare line for me - V&M Naturals. Finally, a skincare line that: a.) uses only the most natural ingredients (no harsh chemicals here, only the good stuff!), b.) is a local brand (hooraaayyy, Pinoy Pride!), and c.) ACTUALLY WORKS FOR ME!


I was introduced to this brand late last year by my friend Andi who happens to be a reseller of V&M Naturals products. At first, I was skeptical because how could products that use ZERO chemicals fix my skin issues? So I tried out their products, a few at a time, slowly. And now, I'm a believer!

So, after an almost five-month blogging hiatus, I'm super duper excited to share with you some of my fave products from V&M:

1. Bare It All Body Cream (non-minty version)
Living in the Philippines where it's always so hot and humid, I think I've grown allergic to even just the sound of body creams. Typically, body creams are thick, sticky, goopy, and they make you feel greasy all over, right? Not this one! I put this on right after taking a shower and it never feels sticky. Never. It sinks into your skin immediately and doesn't leave a greasy film on. It leaves your skin feeling super nice and moisturized and yummy-smelling too! They also sell a minty version which I hear gives a cooling sensation too when applied.


2. CPC+G Whitening Oil
CPC+G stands for Clair Blanche - Papain - Calamansi plus Glutathione! Never been a fan of whitening products for my body, but sometimes I will add in a couple of drops of this stuff with my Bare It All Body Cream to help fade any scars or discolorations on my arms or legs. I use this mainly to spot treat any dark spots/acne scars on my face. Because it's a mixture of natural oils, happy to report that it hasn't irritated my skin in any way. shape or form. I know typical whitening creams/serums in the market will often leave your face red and inflamed - nope, nope! None of that with this one. :)


3. Happy Pores Cucumber Toner
For many years, I've used the toner from the Clinique 3-Step Skincare System. I thought that was okay, but I would sometimes notice subtle stinging after application. With the Happy Pores toner, I never got that stinging sensation and my face never felt too dry or tight after either. Love using this after washing my face and before putting on any other skincare product. This is good to get rid of any dead skin cells, to make sure whatever skincare product you put on after is well-absorbed by your skin. Smells super yummy too! If you're a fan of Bath & Body Works Cucumber Melon, you're going to love this! :)


4. Total Serum Potion in Gold Snail
On their website, it says this stuff contains amino acids of snails to repair skin and kill bacteria. Now, I don't know the specifics of that, but I'll tell you one thing - it did a good job of healing my acne scars in less than two weeks' time. Doesn't feel sticky at all, either. Oh, and as natural and as close to the ground this gets, the serum does not contain snail body parts, hehe! :)


5. Emu Oil
Emu Oil is all the rage these days because it's said to be the natural oil closest to human skin components, thus its ability to heal almost any skin issue. The oil is on the thicker side, so I normally use just half a pump of this on my face to moisturize at night. You'd think that this would break you out, but half a pump every night before bed actually helped clear up my acne and heal the scars. Sometimes, I'll spike my Bare It All Body Cream with a few pumps of this oil to give my skin an extra boost of moisture, especially when it's just waaay to hot and dry out! I've also heard that this does wonders at healing even open wounds/burn wounds and fading scars. I have yet to try that for myself, but I've seen pictures online and the results are outstanding!


6. Keep Safe Facial Sunscreen SPF35
I've found most facial sunscreens to be too thick, too greasy, and they have all broken me out at some point. The first time I applied this, I thought wow, this is prooobably going to break me out since consistency was on the thicker side. Surprisingly though, it sunk into my skin pretty quickly and didn't leave my face looking like a greaseball. No breakouts either. The only gripe I have with this is the packaging - I wish it came in a squeeze tube instead of a tub. With products for the face, I'm a bit more of a germophobe than usual - and I don't really like the idea of sticking my finger in just to get some product out.


7. Wrinkle Revenge Eye Cream
I've used several eye creams - mostly from Bobbi Brown and from Kiehl's and none of them felt as good and hydrating as this one! I apply this before bed and by morning, my eyes look and feel brighter and more refreshed. This is also a nice base for your undereye concealer as it keeps it from creasing or getting patchy throughout the day. :)


The absolute best part is that these products use only the frrreshest, most natural ingredients, so you can be sure that these will be good for you in the long run - no worries about whatsoever side effects brought about by chemicals! :) Overall, really, really happy with my new skincare regimen - I think this is finally the one I'll be sticking with for years to come. :)

Oh, and in case you haven't picked up on it yet, I'm obsessed with the entire brand! So obsessed that their official website is bookmarked on my desktop, laptop, and phone! Have also been trying out (& falling in love) with their suuuuper yummy, handmade soaps. Any of their products tickle your fancy? Do share! :)

❤,
N
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Back when I was still in corporate, there were times wherein my teammates and I had to go straight to an event after work. I worked in the telco industry and as you would expect, things usually are very hectic, leaving me with very little time to re-touch my make-up before heading out. So, if you've ever found yourself in the same situation, I've got you covered! I'm sharing with you 5 EASY steps on how to re-touch, refresh, and amp up your make-up. :)

1. Blot your face and do a light dusting of powder
After an 8-hour workday, your foundation is likely to have worn off already, especially in areas such as your T-zone. Blot your face with an oil control sheet to get rid of any excess oil. Paper towels work, too. After blotting your face, do a light dusting of your face powder, preferably one with some coverage. Blotting your face before going in with foundation will prevent your make-up from looking cakey. I also prefer to use a brush over a sponge whenever re-applying powder foundation. Brushes make for easy, even distribution of product. With sponges, if you're not careful, you can patch on a little too much foundation in one area of your face. And that's the last thing you want on a face that's had make-up on for the past 8 hours!

I love my Shu Uemura Glow Enhancing Powder Foundation, especially for touch-ups! Provides just the right amount of coverage, never looks cakey, looks juuust peeerfect!

2. Re-touch your brows
Day to day, I just lightly fill in my brows with either a brow powder or a pencil. If I'm going out at night, I'll darken them up just a liiiittle bit to give more definition. Re-defining your brows are always a good idea, especially if there are going to be pictures taken during the event!

3. Perk up them lashes!
It's been a long day. Show your lashes some love! Not a fan of piling on more mascara, so I recommend just re-curling your lashes to open up your eyes. Just do a few, gentle squeezes - nothing too harsh! Curling your lashes too hard, especially if they already have mascara on, will make them ping straight up in a very strange, unnatural way. So, gentle squeezes at the bottom, middle, and tip of your lashes is the way to go.

If you want your lashes to really stand out, tightline your upper waterline with a waterproof, black liner. This will make your lashes look that much thicker! (This is kind of cheating, since it's technically an extra step, but hey, who's counting?!) Love the NARS Larger Than Life eyeliner in Via Veneto for this! (Guys, this is the only liner which does not smudge on me, and I have really oily lids, so trust me on this!!!)

4. Contour
A MUST if you're going to any event with picture-taking. A more defined face makes you look more awake and just better, in the most subtle way! Like, when you notice a friend and think they got their eyebrows or hair or nose done, but they haven't, and you think, "What in the world???" That's contouring.

No need to go overboard here! With a light hand, I just go over the hollows of my cheeks, around my temples, jawline, and down the sides of my nose. My fave contour powder, by far, is NYX blush in Taupe. My fave brush to use for contouring is the #32 angled blush brush by Marrionaud.

5. Go bold on the lips!
The quickest, easiest way to take your make-up from day to night is with a bold lip. Makes you look all glammed-up, and takes no time at all! Creating a decent, well-blended smokey eye probably takes waaay more time than doing all of the above 5 steps.

What's a no-fail bold lipcolor? Red. Goes with any look, any outfit, and is perfect for any event! My fave is still the Wet N Wild Megalast Lipstick in Stoplight Red. :)

I hope this has been helpful. I'll be back with my favorite peachy make-up products in preparation for the summer! :)

Always,
N
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About Me



Hi! I'm Nicole, 20-something, and based in Manila. Allow me to share with you what goes on in my make-up-loving mind. I hope you'll also join me in my new adventures as a wife, and as a first-time mom. ❤

For collaborations, please e-mail me at nicoleyusee@gmail.com

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