SwipeSomeGloss

Dear Santa,

I’m sending my Christmas wish list over early for hassle free shopping!

1. Everything in outfit #2 (middle) plus patent jacket in outfit #3 (right)

Both the vest and jacket are from Zara. Image lifted from this month’s Marie Claire Philippines.

2. YSL TOP SECRETS Flash Radiance Skincare Brush

With a single brush stroke, signs of fatigue are erased, and skin is left feeling velvety smooth and fresh with radiance! This high-performance formula combines all the benefits of a skincare product with the precision and ease of a brush, the silky and comfortable texture glides over the skin, leaving it feeling incredibly fresh and invigorated.

A blend of energizing active ingredients combine the Grain of Paradise extract with caffeine to erase signs of fatigue. On the skin’s surface, light-reflecting micro-pigments are able to capture and diffuse light, to reduce skin imperfections and boost radiance.

A seaweed derived sugar forms a veil that maintains moisture on the surface of the skin and protects it against external threats.

Wheat proteins combined with sugar extracted from oats and a silcon elastomer allow for the formula to quickly smooth fine lines, leaving it feeling soft and velvety. Source.

I was madly in love with Bare Escentuals’ bareVitamins Prime Time until I got to try this. Not only did it make my skin look better under MMU but also made application super easy (skin’s ready about 2minutes after application). I got my last brush from Rustan’s about 4 months ago for nearly Php3000. Hope the price tag hasn’t hiked up yet!

3. The Charm Travel Pro Brush Set

I have enough brushes to make a broom to sweep the house but I can’t resist this set! I got my hands on them two weeks ago and they’re too soft, too soft. Definitely of PRO quality. Best part? They’re shorthandled! I don’t have to cut the handles to make application really close to the mirror easy! Totally a steal for only Php1500 or US$38 (pre-buy rate) at Beauty and Minerals.

4. About a dozen each of Gluta Advance White & Firm facial wash and lotion

I’ve told my gal pals over and over that the facial wash from this line’s the softest and most comfortable facial wash I’ve ever tried. Think Shu Uemura cleansing oil soft. I’m not very sure about the firming part yet (told you I need more! haha) but I think it does a decent job in whitening because my face is noticeably lighter than my body! Sure I look funny but I love this cleanser! It neatly stands in my bathroom, very economical (I’ve been using this for a month where I use about 3pumps/wash and am nowhere near consuming 1/3), and very inexpensive (only Php350 for the 150ml bottle I have above).

The lotion is definitely noteworthy too. How many lotions out there works for our very humid city? I honestly haven’t found any that feels as light that’s also got sun protection, Glutathione (I’m a big believer of antioxidants), Claire Blanche (a pretty sweet potion of 7 active ingredients that inhibit melanin formation), L-Carnitine (an amino acid derivative that elevates certain enzymes that metabolize sugars, starches, and other carbs), and Lipofirm (reduces adipose tissue and refirms the skin). Not bad body treat for only Php280 (for the 150ml), eh? Best part? All Gluta Advance products are formulated and developed by dermatologists from Derm Pharma Inc. (the same folks behind Dermclinic’s NuDerm Supreme aka. the save version of Obagi).

5. Another tube of NuDerm Dermage

I met a little accident last Saturday night and I had to get my foot and right leg x-rayed the following day. I saw my doctor in Prime Care (SM City Bicutan, I live close), got my scans, and she told me to come back in 2 hours. Since my body’s pretty beat to walk around and my skin’s all whacked up, I thought it’d be nice (and rather wise) to get a facial. I went to Dermclinic, got a total rejuvinating facial (Php 695 with lymphatic drainage treatment, mask, and oxygen therapy) and acne treatment (Php1000). Why an acne treatment? Oh gawd. My skin was fine the day before the second Project Beauty Workshop but on the day itself…

Gorg eye work by Sophie!

Sure the red dot might look like nothing on the photo but I’m telling you–I’ve never had a pimple that hurt THAT bad! Anyhoo, I got the nasty dot injected and I was prescribed to put NuDerm Dermage on my face every other night for two months. I just started on it last night and the initial touch feel is nice. I’ve been put on tretinoin a couple of times but this one doesn’t sting nor feels hot. Also, unlike most tretinoin creams that leave us looking like an oil mine the following day, I surprisingly woke up with a grease-free face. That sure makes the Php 1250 price tag reasonable!

5. CARGO blu_ray™ Pressed Powder

Created to provide flawless results while looking completely natural during high-definition filming, blu_ray™ Pressed Powder contains specialized photochromatic pigments that adjust with the light so that your base makeup always looks perfect regardless of lighting or setting. Source.

If you’re looking for a very photogenic and HD TV friendly finishing powder I only have 2 recommendations: Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder and CARGO blu_ray™ Pressed Powder. I got to try the latter (thanks S!) and it’s definitely worth the $30 tab. Very smooth on the skin and bounces and absorbs enough light for every photo op. Kiss your too shiny and too shallow mug shots goodbye! Other believers of this performer? There’s Sophie, Jheng, and your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, Karen.

That’s it! I’ve been a very good girl this year Santa so be generous too!

Love,

Phoebe

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