Astrid's Basic Essentials Kit

I don't wear make up even if I'm a working girl and I admit I still get mistaken for a high school student. I personally want to learn how to make myself look more mature. However, I still haven't made time to sit down and learn how to apply make-up.

I just have a basic prettifying kit that I use whenever I feel too bare or ugly. I think it's important to have that something that will lift your confidence up a bit. For me, it's my lip tint. I may forget the rest of my arsenal, but as long as I have my lip tint I feel like I can face people. I've added a few more things to that. Here's my Bare Essentials Kit:

1. Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum Pot Rogue Lip/Cheek Tint- I fell in love the first time I tried it. It has a rich dark brown colour that makes my lips stand out more but in a very natural way.
2. Burt's Bees Tinted Lipbalm- The tinted lipbalm adds a hint of colour to my lips. It's not as obvious as the lip tints but it helps so i don't look as pale as i already am.
3. Burt's Bees Lip Gloss Ruby Moon - It's one of the darker shades of their lip gloss series. They almost have the same colour as my Bobbi Brown tint but this one has a gloss on it. I love it because even it loses its sheen overtime, the colour still sticks.
4. Art Deco Mascarra - I fell in love with this when i first tried it. It elongates my lashes in a very natural way. It's perfect for day make-up, as I don't look like I have a lot of goop on my eyes.

I'll post a before and after photo soon. What's in your Basic Essentials Kit?

-Astrid

OPI Nail Polish

I bought two OPI nail polish. My favourite being pink and electric blue. I really wanted to buy a range of neutral colours but OPI's quite expensive. I think the best nail polish colours are the ones that's a few shades lighter/darker than your finger nails. I love how they look, very polished, classy and some shades actually elongate your fingers.

I like OPI because it lasts long and doesn't chip too much however I've been doing a lot of housework lately and I'm not too sure if they will last as much.

If anyone can reccommend another great nail polish brand, I'd love to know!

Back to School Hair Care

What happens to a lazy college student with dry frizzy hair every morning?
--A college student with bad hair day all week!

I dont really want to wake up early in the morning to be able to tame dry frizzy hair, 'cause... 'ain't nobody got time for that!

So, I am very glad to find the garnier fructis moroccan sleek oil. My hair feels so weightless and I feel like I am in those shampoo commercials (Sumusunod sa galaw mo kinda hair).

I apply it before and after blow drying my hair which takes less than 10minutes. It gives me more time to sleep-in!

I've used a couple of hair products like pantene, frizz-ease and tresemme but garnier was definitely THE BEST, plus it was cheaper too. You can buy it in any superstores like Walmart, Safeway etc..

Minimalism

I have a very tiny built; so,I rarely fit any dresses perfectly. However, Brandy Melville carries clothes for girls my size! I don't normally wear tight dresses for the fear of looking 'too skinny' but this dress was an exception.

 I wore a simple black dress paired up with a 'gladiator' sandal.
The dress has this little cut in the back which made me feel sexy! 

I got the gladiator sandals from Spain. It was 2 years ago so I totally forgot the store name but if you walk around Madrid Downtown I'm sure you'll find it.

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron Soap

Look, I have another Crabtree and Evelyn soap review. My mother loves their soap collection. I particularly liked the citrusy scent of this soap and how fresh and natural it smelled.

-Astrid

Soap Review: Crabtree & Evelyn's Crabapple and Mulberry Soap

My Crabapple and Mulberry soap has run out!

Aside from its pretty packaging, the daintily carved handsoap smelled so wonderful that every morning before heading out my mother would sniff me in delight and tell me I smelled heavenly. The scent wasn't  "perfume-y" strong, it was more on the side of a baby fresh smell.

Right now I'm using Tokyo Milk's Bird soap which smells wonderful, it has a citrusy scent to it unlike the former. It's bigger than the crabapple soap but priced the same.

I love it. Every time I'm feeling lazy to hit the shower early, I remember how good it feels to be lathering in soap like this and I get excited to go to the bathroom.

I'm collecting all the soap packaging too. They're so pretty and you can always reuse them for art projects.

-Astrid

Bag Hag Alert!

Here are some of the bags I was able to get my hands on. I was thinking of keeping them for myself but my mother tells me all my bags look the same. 

I wonder if I should just start selling bags rather than hoarding them? I like bags with minimal design, I tend to buy bags with earth colours but bright ones are fine as long as they don't have any brands visible on them. The bags I've bought have lasted me for more than a year and they're not necessarily branded because let's face it, bags aren't investments, they depreciate over time. 

As long as I have a classic, sturdy bag, I'm good. 

Get Ready for that Warm Sunny Day

I have been really crazy over Topshop's MOTO shorts especially that Vancouver is getting warmer.

It's not the smartest decision to buy especially if you're a full time student and paying rent because it is at least $50+ but... it should be a great investment right? I mean look at it! It's beautiful!

It will look even amazing with a bardot crop! It is soo vintage. Well, 25-15 years vintage. Is that  considered vintage? My point is, it's a must have for this time of year.

getting ready for that warm weather by mymarianess featuring t shirts

What I Would Wear: Dreaming of Spring

Hello! Here's a spring outfit palet I made in polyvore a few years back. I've always loved earth tones and cream. I think this is such a classic look and the top is very much appropriate for the season. 

Dorothy Perkins bird shirt
dorothyperkins.com

Sodamix pleated shorts
$12 - houseoffraser.co.uk

H m flat
$12 - hm.com

Yves Saint Laurent yves saint laurent tote
$1,820 - montaignemarket.com

Givenchy white pearl earrings
nordstrom.com

Pamela love ring
forwardforward.com

Sterling silver ring
amazon.com

Melissa odabash
$12 - debenhams.com

CHRONICLE BOOKS Design Museum Fifty Hats That Changed the World
beckleyboutique.com

For my second palet it's more of a pinkish, peachy theme. It's still very girly but not over the top. 

Dreaming of Spring by neenuh featuring skinny leg jeans

Lanvin silk top
barneys.com

Current/Elliott skinny leg jeans
$155 - net-a-porter.com

Dorothy Perkins platform boots
dorothyperkins.com

Retro bag
romwe.com

Maison martin margiela
$450 - farfetch.com

Miss Selfridge floppy hat
$15 - missselfridge.com

I hope you get more ideas and outfit inspiration from this palet I made! Polyvore is such a fun and easy way to plan your outfits too. I also use Polyvore whenever I'm thinking of going out to shop. It gives me an idea of what styles to look out for. It's easier to have a picture in your mind so  you don't go crazy when you shop.

-Astrid

Soap Review: Lush's Sea Vegetable Soap

Lush's Sea Vegetable soaps key ingredients are coarse sea salt, arame seaweed, lime oil, lavender oil and seaweed absolute. Just looking at its blue and green layers of salt and seaweed made me want to buy it in time for summer. It really does remind you of the ocean. I expected it to smell a lot like the usual "ocean" scents but it smells differently.  

Aside from the weak scent here is why I enjoy this soap:

#1 Exfoliating Layer. I'm a sucker for exfoliants, so the salt layer at the top helps a lot in scrubbing off dirt. It can be a good or bad thing, depending on your needs but I wanted to have more salt exfoliants inside the soap. All of it was on the top layer and it melted after 2-3 showers.

#2 Seaweed. Not sure if this is purely psychological but having tangible seaweed in the soap makes it seem more natural. I'm not so sure what it does to my skin though.

#3 Cleans Effectively. After using this soap I always feel squeaky clean without feeling dry. I also used this soap to rinse off paint from my arms and legs, and it worked quicker than I expected. It does take a while to get a lather though.

#4 Longevity. Uncertain if that word applies to soap but 100 grams of this soap lasts more than a month. I bought this on March 13th and I still have half a bar remaining. It doesn't go soft too.

#5 Calming Effect. What I noticed about the past two bar soaps I've reviewed from Lush Cosmetics is that I always feel better and calmer after washing. Of course, taking showers always makes one feel better but the calming effect is really different. I also get a better night's sleep with this soap.

I am so excited to get a new soap from Lush that I'm becoming impatient because my Sea Vegetable soap isn't running out as fast as I want it to.

-Astrid

Maria's Travel OOTD: A Trip to Toronto

It was a picture perfect day in Toronto, especially at the distillery district.
The bricks matched what I wore so why not take an ootd picture right? :P

It was 8 degrees Celsius downtown so I wore a coat from forever 21 with a sweater from the thrift 
store. Don't you love the pattern of that sweater tho? I love it! :D

 I also wore my favourite winter leggings from American Apparel and  moccasins from Aldo


Look at those moccasins! It's turning gray from too much work.
Its 9 weeks old so if you want it to last forever, don't over use them!

The winter leggings definitely helped in keeping me warm.

Astrid's Shoe Game: Everyday Casual by Bigfoot

This is how I usually dress when I want to look decent at the least. Most days I wear shorts because it is infernally hot in the Philippines. I usually wear my sturdy Marikina sandals to go with my t-shirt and shorts look. There are a lot of people in school who dress to the nines but I live on campus so I don't see the point in dressing up. I do try to fix my hair though.

You can see from my choice of shoes that I have a common theme going on. I love slip-ons/loafers because they're so convenient. This is the kind of shoes you give to someone who's always running late. Neutral shoe colours also work well with different tops and bottoms.

Shoe review from L-R:

#1 I bought this greyish loafers at Trinoman, Landmark. They were being sold at around 545php and when I tried it on, it was soft and really comfy. It also had a few inches of heels, wearing flats tire my feet faster. Unfortunately they don't have bigger sizes so I'm praying this stretches just a tiny bit (Or maybe it's my toenails getting longer).

#2 I think my orange Keds is the softest and comfiest but it wears out easily. I only had it for four months and it's already showing signs of tear. I use it often but I've also used other shoe brands as much (i had a pair of fake *insert brand here*) and it lasted longer than these Keds!

#4 If the first one was a little tight, this is an inch bigger than my feet but it was too good to let go! Luckily there are socks and cushions one can use.

I hate shopping for shoes in the Philippines because it's so hard to find shoes my size. The shoe sizes here are inconsistent, I fluctuate between 9-11. That's so weird because I used to be consistently at size 9, even in Vancouver. I'm always looking for the next shoe shop that can cater to my needs, it is very frustrating to walk inside a store, find something you like and not have it in your size. . .every single time. Girls my shoe size, where you at? Share your top shoe stores!

New Beginning

The outfit below is associated with the concept of spring and it reminded me of what the Easter Bunny said in the movie The Rise of the Guardian "Easter is new beginnings, new life. Easter is about hope.". 


.

I am a student with very limited cash so I try and spend less than 50$ on an outfit

1. DIY Denim Jacket  I got the denim jacket at a thrift store for $10.

2. Black Turtleneck It is an essential! Sometimes, scarves just annoy me! Turtlenecks are the best in keeping you warm without having to wear a scarf. I got this at my moms closet :D

3. Pink Skirt I actually bought this skirt a year ago and I haven't had the chance to wear it until today. It was on a sales rack for $5.

Astrid's What's In My Bag #1

This is an old knapsack I found at a thrift shop in the Philippines. It cost around $4-$5 but it lasted two years of abuse. When I mean abuse, it means my little sister using it as a schoolbag filled with all her hardbound books and binder. It's such a steal for a classic look, and I got this even way before the knapsack and satchel trend! So what's in my bag?

From left to right, top-bottom:

1) Coin purse.
2) hand sanitizers care of my good friend Arvin (he loves hoarding this stuff).
3) journal I bought from a lady along Broadway (Vancouver). She has a lot of selections!
4) sharpies for doodling.
5) coloured pencils for doodling 02.
6) stickies for reminders (got them at Chapters for $2)
7) mints
8) "kikay kit" - a purse where one puts all the girly/make-up stuff
9) Looking for Alaska by John Green (borrowed from Arvin)

I think you will soon realize that I will often mention how fun it is to thrift for bags! There are so many out there waiting to be discovered, and I'm usually the one going in for the kill. What's really great about thrifting for bags is that they are almost, always unique!

Nail Review: Spa 101

Had my nails done today out of spontaneity. I usually plan ahead when I go to my trusted university salon, Vina’s, but recently I found myself not wanting to get anything done from them. It might be the ambience or the fact that they are usually full and I don't lik waiting or getting turned down. Sob.

My friend and I were walking along Maginhawa St, when I spotted Spa 101. I felt like I really needed to get my nails done so we tried it. My friend had a foot spa while I got a manicure and pedicure.

To cut to the chase, ambience aside, there was nothing special about it. Everything was just overpriced. Why?

#1 They use the same nail polish brand as my trusted old salon, and they charge 10x more

#2 Foot spa procedure was the same anywhere you went, just a few meters away you had a spa offering the same service with manicure and pedicure for 190 php while theirs cost P300.

#3 attendants were nice but I felt like the lady who did my nails at my trusted salon was more meticulous. The lady here was really fast and she didn’t ask how I wanted my nails, round, square, short? One has to be assertive in here.

#4 Space is small. Although the general ambience was nice, it was only the lighting really that made everything nicer. If you had your nails done in stark daylight, it would have been like any other small salons.

So what was the good thing about it?

#1 Nice attendants. The ladies were very nice, nothing forced, they were all just sincerely good natured and having someone “light” around you helps you feel less troubled. (I guess that’s one thing about my old salon. The one who did my nails always seemed to have something on her mind) and oh they even returned our takehome pizza!

#2 Color choices. They had lots of colorful choices ranging from neutral tones to funkier greens  and blues. My old salon didn’t have this electric blue color. This brand lasts pretty long too J

#3 Good music choice. 

I do feel like the rates were a little too steep. We spent more than what we ate for dinner which was two pastas and a pizza good for three.  But hey, this is what reviews are for. So now, I guess I’m on the prowl for other nail salons that offer  better services for a reasonable amount. Or maybe I should just go back to my trusted old salon and bring along an eyemask and my ipod. 

Recycling

Remember those studded belts? Well… when I was in high school, I kind of maybe possibly bought too many of those. That was four years ago. They have been accumulating webs until I decided to recycle it and join the ‘studded denim jacket’ hype.
If you also want to recycle, follow these easy steps to add edge to your wardrobe!

STEP 1: My sister and I took out all the studs from the belt. We used tweezers to take them out. 



STEP 2: We then pierced it into the denim jacket. Make sure you pierce them good. 

My fingers are still in pain but it was totally worth it; because I now have a new’ish’ jacket! 
Share YOUR recycling experience below!

-maria

Soap Review: Lush's Porridge Soap

My soap for the month of March is Lush's porridge soap. I didn't know Lush had branches in the Philippines until I stepped in one last December. The woman recommended their best-seller which was for skin lightening. But I saw this one and it smelled nice and sweet, the kind you want to eat. I guess I figured why I wanted to take a bite out of it when I found out the ingredients. It's made of organic orange juice, pinhead oatmeal, rapeseed and coconut oil.

Porridge Soap fresh out of its wrapper!

What I Love:

#1 The Scent. It's a faint, sweet smell, nothing overpowering. The con being, you also want that scent to stay all day, but it doesn't.

#2 Rich Lather. It has a very milky lather, and I love the feeling specially when I'm rinsing and I see all the cream going down the drain. Feels like I'm delicately clean.

#3 Exfoliate. I mainly bought it for its exfoliating quality, some would say it's too harsh on their faces but I don't find the oats rough on my skin at all.

#4 After-feeling. There is something about this soap that makes me feel calmer, and soothed after using it. It always makes me feel better.

This is how it looks after a few weeks of use.

Cons:

#1 Can Melt Fast. Don't leave it wet in the bathroom because the soap is quite soft, you can always ask the ladies to chop the soap into smaller chunks to avoid waste. Also, because the soap melts faster, the more the oats come out. Some people may not like this but for those who want to exfoliate their skin, it's a nice exfoliating bar.

#2 Oats Everywhere! I always have lots of oat flakes  around the bathroom walls after a shower!

Lush sells their soaps for a minimum weight of 100g. This one was around 225php per 100g.
I really love this soap from Lush. Other products I've tried are their Christmas special, the Snowfairy Angel body wash and Sandy Santa Body Scrub both of which I totally loved! I'll have to wait for Christmas to get a new set. So far all the Lush products I've tried are really great, and I hate to say it but I have to stay away from their store if I don't want to end up hoarding soaps.

-Astrid