joyce's blog

Meow

i wrote a review about Meow a month or 2 ago.

 

Meow Minerals Foundation Formula Review

its truly my HG. and when i test foundations, i use them as my base reference.

 

Uglogirl

i received my UGG orders after 3 weeks. i know it was a bit late by usual standards but i fully understand Melissa. When i emailed her, she responded quickly and was very gracious.

Now onto the goodies

i ordered 3 flat tops only

but but but

i received 2 foundation samples, a buttercup concealer, a goddess lipgloss, a petale blush , and a rose and lavedner toner. FREEBIES galore.

 

 

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also, i want to comment on the CS. Melissa is an absolute doll, she was very very warm in the way she responded to her customers, and makes me feel like im talking to a friend. She even sent an email apologizing for running late.Im very impressed with her cs, and would order from her again sometime soon

i havent tried all yet, just the:

the foundation samples i got were foxxy lady and tender cream

--> foxxy lady is light for me as i can see in the pot, so i didnt use it anymore. I used tender cream and its still a bit light but wearable, nothing a good aofc can correct.. I was impressed with this foundation because it feels light. Im a major " Light feeling" freak. I hate above all those mineral powders with heavy feeling. It covered my pores pretty well, and the finish is like Meow, matte but not flat. Samples are generous. im thinking id go a shade darker and im pretty sure its gonna be great! HG- material.

 

concealer in buttercup

--> i thought initially that this is a powder type of concealer, so i was very careful of opening the pot lid. And so imagine my astonishment when i discovered its a creme form. i used my pinkie to apply some of it to the undereye area. I think i remember reading in the website that it can treat under eye circles? I hope so. i do have horrible eye circles that i cover using a 2 step process. i would love to be able to eliminate another step.

Rose and lavender toner

-->i was impressed in this toner, this has a tightening effect. I liked the smell also. 

flat top

--> OMG! super soft. applies foundation like a dream. While the lumiere ftop is denser, this one is fuller. I like the fact that i have a choice for my foundation. I used Lumiere's for the base/wet app, and UGG's for the 2nd layer/dry app. very happy camper on this one. Im a ftop addict. I noticed that UGG and FF buffers are almost the same, but not quite.

 

Melissa also wrote me a message in the card. isnt she sweet?

 

 

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packaging is definitely within the Girlygirl theme. very pink. from the tissue to the plastic and even the paypal invoice and stickers on the pots. I love it!!

 

over all, i would reco UGG. you wont feel shortchanged. CS is great, products are great, and who can resist a girly girl theme? me? a self confessed vain girl?

Falsies

i have been wearing falsies for 2 days now and i really liked the effects it gave me

I looked sultry. Sultry eyes. My friend even told me that i looked like an actress. LOL

Here is a pic of me wearing falsies vs no falsies..

i cropped the pic as you can see so the focus is on the eyes

 

Isn't it great? oh yeah i wear contact lenses. My natural eye color is dark brown

 

This is the pair of falsies i wore. I hoarded 10 pairs of them. The amount.. 100pesos for 10 pairs.. Thats $2 - $3 for 10 pairs!! * Beams!* This is honestly one of the best buys i ever had*

 

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and my friend gave me another pair. I think i am starting an addiction for falsies

 

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That one is like feather-ish. Im thinking ala Shu uemura which sells for around $24 a pair..This one is from Korea i think she got it at a much higher price than mine but definitely not more than $4 a pair

 

and the glue/adhesive i use to make it stick close to my lashline is this one. This is Aido eye putti. I have been searching everywhere for this one for months, and luckily, the SA texted me when this one became available again. Costs around $3. This is multipurpose, it can be used for falsies as well as making a crease line or "ting sun". Asian girls who have monolid who wants to try double lids for a change can enjoy this!

 

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anyone here who have tried falsies? i at first was very skeptical, because i felt it was too much of a hassle to don falsies, but really, i spent like less than 8 minutes in application. Im sure as time passes by, its gonna be easier for me

 

I lined my eye with gel liner in Choco Mousse so that the falsies dont look like fake and it makes it more "blended"

vanilla and co

i tried the body butters, goatsmilk scrub, WHT, and 60sec stress destressor

Kudos to Vanilla and co. They dont use any chemically enhanced ingredients. I liked that!!

 

60 sec ..Tress destressor

- this conditioner smells so divine... cherry, vanilla and citrus... also has vit e, aloevera and chamomileThe smell lasts long. I applied this in the morning and by night, i can still smell it. Its a light conditioner, perfect for those with fine hair or normal hair. I have thick dry sometimes frizzy hair, and it tames my hair a bit. Since i have long hair, i use this one up pretty fast. i think max of 4 to5 application. But this one is el cheapo, costs only 120pesos

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Body butters

50% whipped cocoa butter- I LOVE LOVE this one. smells so delish. cocoa smells chocolatey, and i slather this on every chance i get. Cocoa is good for stretchmarks, remember Palmer's? this one is way better and way inexpensive plus natural.

Whipped buttercreams- My sis got 3jars , 2 for herself and one for a friend. She was telling me that she now wants the other 1 for herself since she is on her 2nd pot and its gonna be used up soon. I smelled them and they smell delish too. There is now several new scents, think like starbucks. WOW!! will get them for my next order.. Sis said her skin is softer than before. She liked it because it was thick but absorbs quickly, very moisturizing and does not leave a sticky feeling. She claimed she sleeps better because of this?i believed the one she used were the shea and seaweed and shea and sweet pea..or maybe she slept better because she smells divine?? LOL

 

 

 

180g costs only 290php for whipped buttercreams and 450php for 300g

 

and

 

for the 50% cocoa butter, its a bit more expensive but its very very good so i dont mind spendin a bit more

180g costs 310php

300 g for 450php

1kg for 1250php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Witch hazel tonic- this is among the misters i use to set my MMU.. Usually i use Puremist, this, and shu's deep water... but i find that i prefer more the puremist and WHT. the shu one leaves my skin a bit, i dunno if this is the term, irritated? there is a strong smell in shu's

so the wht, is basically, WH, tea tree and vit c... this leaves a refreshing feeling to the face, esp when i store them inside the fridge. It sets the MMU, plus my skin never broke out on this one. another great find at 120php.. my sis and i ordered like 3 extra as a backup. talk about hoarding

 

 

 

 

 

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Goatsmilk scrub- to be used on damp skin while showering. it smells divine. vanilla scent is very natural and soothing, i think i read a poll that claimed that vanilla scent is very "aprodisiac-ish" scent for males? LOL....while the mediterranean salt and vanilla milk as a scrub is one special treat, makes the skin glow and look radiant.. costs only 280php per 300g .

 

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and why do i love vanilla and co so much?? the fact that they sell products at affordable prices, and its natural, no chemical whatsoever, is that when they do go on a SALE, prices are slashed to 50%... HAHAHA.. perfect for students like me

Ilog Maria Bee Farm- natural skincare

Reading all the posts from the ladies of Vox, im pretty much convinced to shift to natural skin care. I suppose, if you are going "Mineral makeup" why not go first with natural skin care? im taking several baby steps towards natural skin care, and my first stop is Ilog Maria Bee Farm. It is a bee farm located somewhere in tagaytay. They do sell soaps, spa products,aromatherapy oils,beeswax candles, beeswax products, bee pollen, gift ideas, herbs,honey products, propolis, and royal jelly.

i personally havent visited the farm, but was able to buy from them thru online shopping. I REALLLLLYYYY love online shopping

the products i tried

***** Bamboo charcoal bergamot and lime soap- from the website, it is described as

Whitening action. Absorbs skin odors & toxins. Astringent for Oily skin. Uplifting. Energizing. Bergamot oil is anti-bacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, deodorant and helps clear eczema. Lime Oil is antiseptic and antiviral, so it aids in beating many common skin illnesses and ridding the skin of acne.

- You may find this a bit icky of a topic to discuss but i assure you this is worth it. remember when its uh , our "Time of the month"? well, im one of the unlucky ones who do get diaper rashes LOL. i bought this soap to see if it can combat my rashes. Lo and behold, it can. I was amazed because i tried the sulfur soaps, the prescribed by the doctor soaps, but it didnt do anything for me. this lil baby of a soap cured my diaper rash and prevented it from coming back. Needless to say, no more diaper rash for me =P . I used this specifically for my backside.

**Eucalyptus and Ginger soap

Cool & Spicy. Fights scaly dry skin and all forms of dermatitis.Circulatory stimulant. Recommended for psoriasis.

- I personally didnt find anything " spicy" or "cool" with this soap. LOL. Its an okay soap, i used this all over the body. Cute green color with some brown/blond flecks. I do feel clean when i use this. No special effects for me.

*** Milk and honey soap

Offering your skin gentle moisture and a glowing complexion. Wholesome, nutrient-rich buffalo’s milk has a low pH level. Maintains skin at its natural balance. Recommended for problem or sensitive skin

This is good! when i used this, i noticed my skin is super soft. i dont need to put creams at night. I used them for the body, and i noticed that my skin stopped looking flaky. What can i say? milk really has nourishing properties. This a creamy white soap. Smells really good too.

***** honey feminine wash

We put extra doses of Propolis Gold in our formula for premium clear soap for added antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral action.

We then add peppermint oil for an added cooling effect. Finally we add pure sampaguita oil for long lasting fragrance.

Use by women who want to feel really clean & fresh all day.

 This femine wash is absolutely the best. Im happy that i found a natural alternative for those commerically produced feminine wash. This soap has a LOOOONNNNGGGGG cooling effect. When i say long, it is really LLLLOOOONNNNGGG.  this leaves you feeling so clean so fresh. I promise! You have to be careful in using this, as this soap crumbles/liquifies easily so you have to have a soap case for this t.  It can be addicting. i dare you to not get addicted to this. it delivers.

**** Honey propolis shampoo

Handmade in our Beefarm from natural ingredients: Honey for conditioning &hair growth. Propolis for scalp infections, dandruff, falling & greying hair. Natural oils like palm kernel oil, castor oil and  coconut oil for gentle cleansing. Aromatherapy grade essential oils from herbs and fruits nourish and heal your scalp, while fighting skin ailments.

Place a small amount of our natural shampoo in your palm. Work into a rich lather in your hair. If no bubbles form, this is because our natural shampoo is reacting with and eliminating all the residues from commercial shampoos, hair oils, grime. Rinse out thoroughly. Then put a small amount of shampoo again, work into a rich lather. Keep lather on while bathing the rest of your body. Rinse well.

For the very best hair conditioning, nothing can beat two sliced kalamansi. Their pulp and skin have enough limonene oil to condition your hair naturally, perfectly. Rub the juice, pulp and skin oils into your hair and rinse very well. This will leave your hair soft and shining without the residue of commercial chemical hair conditioners.

 

This shampoo is MINTY. i supposed the propolis in it is responsible for this? i used this when i do have the luxury of time, seeing that the procedure is a bit,uh,, longer. This gave me soft hair, but i noticed a bit drying. Good clarifying shampoo, but not for everyday use. I need to do 2 rounds of sudsing up my hair, as the first round didnt have the lather. i prefer my shampoo to go all lathery.

Slicing up kalamansi or lime or lemon is not an option for me for days i have to rush.

 

***** propolis and beeswax lipbalm

Softens even the softest tissue; Moistens, Lubricates.

Made from refined beeswax, Propolis Gold, Virgin Honey and a medly of fruit oils. Simply yummy.

Excellent for wind-burned, cracked,  dry and bleeding lips.

this is simply the best lipbalm i ever have. Its in a pot, so you have to use your pinkie or index finger, rub some on the balm and spread it on your lips. This tastes ( i know im yucky tha way but i love tasting balms, they should have been made edible IMO) sweet and minty at the same time. Smells good too in a natural way. Have lasting effects. I dabbed some on my lips, went to the hospital, and by the time i got there ( usually an hour ride) i can still feel my lips tingling. Im thinking ala Jolie lips.

 

***** propolis throat spray

Breath Freshener & Bacteriostatic Throat & Mouth Spray.

Made from ILOG MARIA Virgin Honey, Propolis Gold & Peppermint / Spearmint Oils.

Prevents colds and coughs if taken immediately after an "itchy throat" is felt. Soothes sore throat and smoker's cough. Excellent for cold sores or "singaw". Clears itchy throat & hoarse voice fast.

 

i sprayed some after i felt some uncomfy itching in my throat. i could feel a cold coming. I sprayed twice in the AM, and in the afternoon, my throat felt normal again. i dont have to do the 'gargle in salt solution" which i hated but is effective. i love this spray.

***** RJ cleanser and moisturizer

Handmade in our beefarm from: beemilk or royal jelly, honey, beeswax, propolis & natural flower, herb & seed oils. We add more royal jelly to this cleanser – moisturizer, which is directly absorbed in your skin; rejuvenating it.

Can be used as a make-up remover. Wipe dry with tissue paper.

Can be used as a moisturizer. Just rub into skin and leave on.

We do not use emulsifiers so please shake well before using.

This smells divine. to my olfactory sense, methink its a lemongrass-y type of smell. Its overpowering but nice. When i first used this, i was a bit disappointed because it wasnt sudsy. And im a sudsy kind of a person. But i couldnt let it go to waste. And i heard a local actress uses this for her skincare and she has mighty fine skin. So i gave it another shot.

I didnt shake it ( obviously not following instructions) so when i squeezed the bottle, a lumpy sort of cream and some liquid went into my palm. I applied it to my wet face. and massaged it for like a minute or so. When i washed it, i felt like i have some grease on my face. and my hands are like impermeable to water. You gettin my drift? Uhhh! so i went to the mirror and check it out. I can see my face looking that way too. double UHHH! i was seriously debating whether i should wash my face for the second time. then i remembered that its a cleanser moisturizer. Okay, im giving it five minutes. if im still an oil slick, im off to wash my face. A good five minutes have passed before i checked my self at the mirror, and OMG! My face is glowing. Seriously glowing. the moisturizer in it is absorbed by my skin. this is one good stuff

and this also has a lotion version for the body. RJ honey milk lotion

i also tried the

 honey

NEW! Ilog Maria Virgin Honey bottle.

Food grade polypropylene bottle with medical grade wide flip top cap. It contains the same volume of honey as before.

Our previous honey bottles were a little too large. They were only 85% full. We have successfully eliminated the air space above the honey fill level for a better vacuum seal.

Now, our honey will stay fresher, longer. With the new wide mouth, it is easier to enjoy our honey to the very last drop. Our new bottle is easier to re-seal too.

You see a sample of the many kinds of honeys we harvest from a multitude of blooms each year. Colours, tastes, textures and smells of our honeys are always different from bloom to bloom.

Seasonally available: sunflower, coffee, avocado, citrus, coconut, wild vines, narra, mahogany, coconut, tamarind, eucalyptus, mango and many other honeys. Our bees choose which flowers they go to, we just harvest their surplus.

Extra Virgin; Unheated; Unfiltered for maximum healing action.

Ideal for coughs, colds, digestive problems, skin injuries & skin ailments.

Honey season is from March to May each year.

We have been forced to ration honey because the rains of La Nina have inhibited natural flowering and we have made a poor honey harvests for two years now. So we can make our honey last for everyone.  We normally have a long waiting list.

We were also directly hit by Typhoon Milenyo and two other typhoons. Our bees and vegetation need time to recover.

  

We are able to sell just one bottle per customer per month.

I tried their honey, and it does have a different taste. nothing bad, i supposed it must have been the flowers in the farm. it tastes different, but in a good way. My father takes in a tablespoon a day finds that it is beneficial for his digestion and helped with the bloodshoot eyes.

 

And of course, very importantly, ilog maria has strict guidelines in their bee keeping. They make it a point or RULE not to exploit the bees. Read on these

 

 

 

 

 

policies/rules

Oh yeah,i also have a scoring system for the products

Im recommending the items by giving them * (asterisk)

5 being the highest and 1 lowest

 prices range from 50 pesos (conversion $1) to around250pesos( $5). its great stuff!!

So there. i hope Vox gals will learn something/ benefit from my post. I rarely post but when i do, i kinda think, i do post too long. Have a nice day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mineral makeup collection

I am an addict. I do admit it. I collect mineral makeup.

In just 8 months of using MMU, i amassed quite many minerals. from foundation to finishing powder, from blush to eye shades. I use some a bit, then use another. I play with my minerals, i experiment which is better for these, what goes with what and which are really HG material. I dont count how many shades i have, i just keep on buying them. I spent more than i budgted for them. WHo cares? *weep* i enjoy enabling friends to try these and that, because i want them to veer away from the traditional harmful makeup.

Il post pics when i organize my stash, till then!

This is ME

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Since these is my very first post, i thought i should start introducing myself.

My name is Joyce, and i am currently residing in Philippines. I am an occupational therapy intern I have been forever searching for the perfect makeup, perfect skincare, and perfect hair. I am VAIN and i am proud of it. I would never leave home without my minerals on. NEVER

For the perfect skin, all it takes for me is my topical medicine (Stiemycin for the occasional pimples, my skin can never tolerate Benzoyl peroxide, it just reddens up like crazy), facial wash( cetaphil and acne-aid). I take in supplements such as Conzace, and a chinese medicine called Toxin clearing capsule which i SWEAR is amazing, it removes all impurities in my body, thus giving me a glowy complexion.Its made up of ... I wouldnt want to say it lest PETA gets angry.

For the perfect hair, well, i am still in the process of finding my perfect hair. I have premature greying of the hair, and i have to color regularly, as a result, my hair is dry and not shiny. I have straight hair outside but the inside is wavy to curly. It just drives me crazy. I used diff products already from drugstore brands to high end ones, but nothing really worked or if they DO work, its temporary only.. So any suggestions? I tried natural( vinegar, which gave me temporary shine, its smelly so i use this once a week only). I am working on a new regimen right now, which i like, its really simple but i guess it works. I alternate shampoo days ( MWFSun), Conditioner everyday but it has to be 2 diff kinds of conditioner ( one intensive one light). My hair is more behaved nowadays.

For the perfect makeup, well well well, this is my fave topic among all. I chanced upon the topic of The mineral makeup thread in a forum which i participated on. Lo and behold! women were literally addicts to it. So i said to myself, what is mineral makeup?MMU? what is HG? and why are they inexpensive? They were extremely helpful in answering my questions. I also found out that there are diff brands, from large companies such as B.E. and small woman owned company such as Lumiere, Meow and many more. in my country, there is little chance that you find something inexpensive to be very good. Brands such as Shu Uemura, LM, Guerlain, Shiseido, MAC dominate the cosmetic industry, and are relatively expensive. Worse case scenario is, you are conned by the SA and then when you get home you found out this makeup sucks and why did i bought it in the first place. I never saw any mineral makeup in the beauty bars except for  Youngblood and Allison Raffael and they are expensive. They dont even have my shade. So why should i dole out the money for them? Expensive for a measly amount of minerals. Sheeessh..

Well i dont want to spend money that much for these high end brands since i figured out that i am not yet working. But the minerals samples are cheap. a 1/8 tsp cost only 100 pesos or $2. You can get a package of 3 foundation samples, 1 mineral blush and 1 finpow for only 500pesos or $10. Cheap isnt it? Plus my first venture into the MMU world is even free.. My friend Sophie gave me some EDM samples, blush and fin powder, i have to pay only 80pesos shipping, roughly $1.50.

I belive this started my MMU addiction. Then i started seeing the million pictures of the women who wore MMU and i thought, i could be like them, i could look flawless. I could be fabulous!!

Sales just keep popping out of nowhere... Ding! Ding! Ding! I am deliriously happy..Seeing mineral makeup plastered on the screen is like a work of art. When the postman arrives, and i see my package, all my stress are gone, i could go on staring. This is the life

 

This is ME. This is my reality..