Well, whatever it is, he makes me want to buy a bottle.


*Check out MegaStyle's story HERE.

I had so much time to kill so I was able to drop by the department store today to shop for the third series of Splurge vs. Steal. So notebook in hand, I was able to shop for 5 more items to show you!

I had to use some stock photos for some of the products because my product shots suck! LOL Enjoy!

1. MAC Wipes (P1,500/100 pcs.) vs. SkinLite Make-up Cleansing Tissues (P99.75/30 pcs.)




The first on my list is SkinLite's Make-up Cleansing Tissues. I have been using this for a while for my clients because it's very gentle on the skin. When I was starting out as a makeup artist, I remember investing in MAC Wipes, and after being years in the industry, it was just silly to spend that much for wipes.

I have tried a few makeup remover wipes in the market, and this is the one that came closest to MAC. Well... Except the scent. MAC has a subtle fresh scent while SkinLite has kind of an aloe, tea-tree oil scent to it. It smells good, it's just a little far from that of MAC's.

Hey gorgeous! Because of you, 'MakeupMaven has reached over 100 followers. And as a special treat, Belle & Cat Nail and Wax Studio has sponsored an ULTIMATE SPA MANICURE PLUS HAND PARAFFIN TREATMENT to 3 lucky winners!

NOTE TO WHOEVER WANTS TO JOIN: This is an honesty-system. Please don't just click it, do them. I don't have time to check if you really did the "How to join" steps so please be honest. Thanks and enjoy!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last week was Bobbi Brown’s Live Webcast event and Megastyle was logged in to watch her talk about her new book “Pretty Powerful”.

Bobbi Brown talked about how makeup does not make women more confident, beautiful, and powerful, but how you perceive yourself as beautiful. “I do believe that a woman should realize that they have their own power to be beautiful”, Brown adds.

The webcast lasted an hour and her talk was more about self-confidence and self-love than how to make oneself pretty through the use makeup or her cosmetics line. It was definitely inspiring to hear someone in the cosmetics business and a world-renowned makeup artist who makes her living beautifying other people, NOT talk about makeup.

Brown also said, “Beautiful to me is confidence, it means being confident in who you are”, then adds, “beautiful does not mean looking like those women on the pictures of Vogue. Because a lot of those girls are not as beautiful as they photograph.”

When I logged in last night at the “media only” website, I was surprised to see how Bobbi Brown was dressed in very comfortable clothes and very minimal makeup. She was herself. I admired how comfortable she was in her own skin. For someone who was very big in the beauty industry, she didn’t put on the extra time to look like some of the celebrities and the models whose makeup she did, but she looked like herself, she looked confident, she looked beautiful.


I think that that was what her book entails. Be confident in yourself, and you will look beautiful no matter what you put on your face. You won’t be constantly be looking at the mirror checking your appearance and your makeup.

The interview took only 11 minutes where Bobbi talked about how she came up with the idea of her new book and what it was about, but answering questions from the media from all over the world took 45 minutes, including my own: “What is your take on whitening products?” Bobbi answers: “I don’t believe in whitening products, but I have created brightening products because I understand that women want to look brighter. I don’t like changing the color of people’s skin, I like brightening it and evening it out but I don’t want to bleach anyone’s skin.”

She also explains how she loves giving talks to young girls about confidence, and how to eat right and be healthy. Because this will also make someone feel confident when you are putting the right food into your body. Being healthy will reflect on the glow of your skin, and how you feel as a whole because you live healthy.

Bobbi Brown seems like someone who practices what they preach. I have several books that she has written in the past and she does talk about the same thing: eat right, how to apply natural makeup, be comfortable in your own skin, and just be yourself. She gives women fantastic makeup advise on how to look beautiful without changing yourself with the use of makeup, but how to feel beautiful inside and out.

NARS gave me a thank you gift... And THANK YOU back!

I was able to review 2 of their best sellers, and they are just heavenly, specially the gentle cream cleanser.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: When using this product, all you need is a tiny amount. I'm talking about a small pea-size amount. Massage on really wet skin, it lathers really well and if you use it this way, this bottle can last you a really long time.

I found that if you use too much of this product, it can be drying. But if you use a small amount and really wash it all, it works fantastically!

DO NOT USE THIS ON YOUR EYES! It stings like the devil even if you have your eyes shut. If a tiny amount of that soapy water gets in your eyes, it hurts like anything! So avoid using this around your eyes. I suggest removing eye makeup with an eye makeup remover first before cleansing your face.

The hole on the tube is quite big so product just flows out of the bottle without squeezing it so be careful or else you'll end up with too much.




The firming foundation comes in a sleek and chic packaging so that one is already a plus for me. Although, the usual NARS packaging is made up of a material that becomes sticky in time but I don't really care because it's what's inside I am after. LOL

The color of the foundation NARS gave me is BARCELONA which is about 1.5 shades darker than my skin color but it's yellow-based so I was lucky!

I am still able to use it for contouring.









The consistency is easily spreadable. It's not really watery, and it's not exactly thick either so I can say that the consistency is perfect. The shade is darker than my natural color so I use this on my cheek bones. I use a sponge to apply it on my face.

The foundation smells kinda like unscented face sunblock but that doesn't really bother me too much. Have you tried this before? What's your take on the product? :)


NARS is available in Rustan's Department Stores.

Back by popular demand, I was able to compile a few more products from my notes to compare for the Splurge vs. Steal Series! Enjoy!


1. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (P2,250) vs. ELF Mineral Infused Face Primer (P495)


For all you ladies who are addicted to face primers, ELF may be a good alternative for you. And to some who find having to put primers on the face makes the foundation cakey, that just means you have layered on too much.

As a makeup artist and blogger, I am always on the lookout for more affordable alternatives for my readers and clients. Not all of us can afford luxury cosmetics so I am here to give you my version of "Splurge vs. Steal".

Please note that I have personally tested these products, and therefore I would highly suggest you do the same before buying anything. Test them at the counters and always give it time for it to seep through your skin for at least 5 minutes and see if you'll have any reactions.

Our body's acidity varies from one person to the next, so color results may vary. Enjoy!

1. MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam I (P1,000) vs. Kokuryu Moist Lipstick in Sherry Wood (P164.00)

Ok. I am not a mom... yet, nor will be one anytime soon. But when someone invited me to J&J's baby milk event, who can pass up the chance to experience a new product by a brand which I grew up to using up until now.

Johnson's products are a big part of keeping beautiful skin. If you are too young to use the "grown-up" skin care, Johnson's is the way to go. That's why it was important to me that I attended this event and share with you guys about this heaven-sent brand.


The event was held in the cosmetics department of SM Makati. The media, mommy bloggers, and consumers were invited to experience their improved Baby Milk formula.

Yesterday, was a special day.

I never tried La Mer before, but I was given the opportunity to enjoy one of their luxurious facials offered to press and VIPs only.

I have heard so much about La Mer and I was so excited when I got their invitation I could hardly sit still.


The location of the top-secret room (which they turned into a Spa) is sent to you a day before your appointment. When you enter, you are greeted by a relaxing environment full of La Mer information brochures and stuff.


La Mer's beauty expert then explains to you their products. I really learned a lot from her. She really knew about the products.

Finally! Missha opens in Makati!

I dropped by Landmark yesterday afternoon before heading home to change for the Mega to Mega event, promising myself that I will just buy a new plum lipstick that would match my outfit.


I love seeing Landmark's "Cosmetics Fair" Banner! I got extra excited when I learned of their sale. I haven't been to Landmark in a while! (Hi MMDA guy! Thanks for helping me cross the street!)

As soon as I entered, there she was... Waiting for me:

I was torn between having to sacrifice an hour of nap time before getting ready for the big event knowing that it would carry on til late because there was another MEGA event in Prive. So, just going to L'Oreal to buy my lipstick or important rest and nap time to prevent me from passing out from exhaustion from a whole day of meetings Hmmm...

I chose the latter.


I took my time browsing through their kiosk (stall? stand?) trying on lipstick after lipstick, asking questions and sampling blushes. I was in makeup heaven. I have heard so much about their makeup line, but believe it or not, 8 years of being a makeup artist, I've never tried this brand before (I know right?)... probably because it was not accessible for me. But now that they HAVE come to Makati, me and my bank account is in big trouble!


An hour later, I ended up not buying anything because I had no idea which ones I wanted to buy. Just about 2-3 visits more, I'll know what I want. LOL!

Head out to Landmark now to enjoy and visit MISSHA and the big cosmetics fair until end of October!