Maffy Night Out with the Gurls

Yes, the same title as one of my facebook photo albums. Haha! I went out with my high school pals from Holy Family Academy last March 13. I almost didn't make it. I found the girls parked in front of Caca's dental cinic (well it's really not named after her, but it is owned by her family so it's technically Caca's, LOL). Obviously, I was the last to arrive. We couldn't choose where to eat (nominees were de Paolo's, Grill 99, etc.) So Caca just drove and drove until we reached SM Clark. Maan and Apol had dinner at an Inasal Resto (no, it's not the Mang Inasal one but the one endorsed by Judy Ann, forgot the name, sorry). The meal titles were hilarious by the way (i.e. Buhay na Buhay Meal, Habang may Buhay Meal, Pampahaba ng Buhay Meal or something of that sort). Caca and I already had our dinner so we just ordered some deserts.

Dinner with Maan, myself, and Apol (Caca as photographer)

What did we talk about during dinner? Basically, Caca's romantic triumphs and heartaches. Cia, Caca's biologically-identical-but-not-so-identical twin sister wasn't able to come due to a prior commitment (read: romantic date with *toot*)

@Cioccolo: This is where we were originally seated...

@Cioccolo: But then we transferred to another spot...

After dinner, we drove to Cioccolo for some coffee. We were surprised to see a lot of people. Apparently, there was either a school prom or 18th birthday party celebration in Grand Palazzo Royale which almost automatically triggered a part of our brain to reminisce our own JS prom. Haha! And there was a live band playing. The music was too loud so we just stayed inside the coffee shop. We perched ourselves in a comfy sofa set and chatted the night away. We all had blended iced coffee and Caca, being the voracious eater that she is, ordered a slice of pistachio sansrival which she selflessly shared with everyone.

Cioccolo interiors

Pistachio Sansrival

Maan and I were more than happy to share some new terms to the other two: maffy and badaff. Maffy meaning "mafeeling" and Badaff meaning "bading". On the other hand, Apol entertained us with first-hand showbiz news fresh from the ABS-CBN Compound. LOL! But the highlight of the night was undeniably Maan's explosive exploits on Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. I think it is too shocking and morbid to blurt out in the open.

Mirror image shot

Ladies' Comfort Room (LOL)

When almost all people had left Cioccolo, we went out of the coffee shop and took some (or should I say tons and tons) of pictures. And yes, we were the last people to leave the place. I was able to reach home at around 2:15 in the morning. It was a tiring but fun night. We each even had an assignment to upload the photos as soon as we reach home. Haha!

Favorite shot of the night

Reminds me of the Arch of the Centuries in UST
(I can't remember if I passed through it during our Baccalaureate Mass but I most probably did)

UPDATE: Caca is now over the top excited for our next night out that she can't concentrate on reviewing for her finals in UST Med School. Haha!

Saizen Haul plus ELF Liner Pen

Last Saturday, my boyfriend and I went to Marquee Mall to visit a particular shop called Saizen. It's a Japanese outlet store with all items prized at PHP 85. However, I am not sure if it's safe to claim that all items offered in this store are manufactured/imported from Japan since I checked the product labels of some and found out that a number of them are made in China, Korea, Thailand, and other Asian countries. Hahaha!

Oh well, on to my haul. I got myself 2 pearl eyeshadow quads in Natural Brown and Cool Blue, a green two-fold pocket mirror, and a clear plastic flip-top container/case. Before I headed home, I stopped by Metro Department Store and got myself an ELF Waterproof Liner Pen in Black.

Saizen haul

Plastic flip-top container for my shorter brushes and eye pencils
It has 3 separate compartments

a peek inside

the 2-fold mirror looks like a new message icon when closed (haha!)
By the way, I think it is expensive (PHP 85) for a pocket mirror.
I could get a cheaper one at Watson's (but oh well, I didn't think before buying, sigh)

Pearl eyeshadows (Cool Blue and Natural Brown)

ELF Waterproof Eyeliner Pen (Black)

While I was busy checking out the cosmetics section of Metro Department Store, the L.A. Colors stand caught my attention. Their eyeshadow trios are prized at PHP 60 (either that's correct or my eyes are playing tricks on me because I was in a rush). Oh well, I will be checking those out the next time I swing by Marquee. I am also on the hunt for an affordable bullet/rounded crease brush. Any suggestions? ^_^

ADDENDUM:
I checked out Saizen's Multiply site and found out that our local Saizen branch in Marquee Mall apparently does not carry all cosmetic items that are offered in their Robinson's Galleria branch. Unfair much? Hahaha!

Date with BF plus EOTD

Last Saturday, I went out on a date with RV (my boyfriend). On the average, we only see each other once a week since he lives far from my place. His former colleagues from work invited him for a get-together that night. But he arrived way early since he wanted to spend some time (no matter how little) with me. Awww!

We went to the newest mall in my place (Marquee Mall) because I wanted to check out a particular store, Saizen. The last time we went to Marquee, the store wasn't opened still. I bought a couple of items from this store. I will be posting my haul in another blog entry.

photo taken from trendsandspots.com
I am guessing this photo was taken way before grand opening day
notice that the escalators are still covered with black fabric thingy (haha)

SAIZEN (photo taken from chuvaness.com)

So after I shopped for my haul, we ate at Yellow Cab. We ordered our favorite pizza flavor, New York's Finest. We were so starved that we forgot to take a picture of it with my cam. (Haha!) After eating, I picked up just one more item from Metro Department Store and headed on our separate ways (home for me, get-together with his friends for him). LOL!

photo taken from nicolegoes (flickr)

RV and Ey-em

RV hates the way he looks on this photo so I just covered his face with a smiley
(he would kill me if I posted this photo as is) Haha!

That day, I wore a very basic green and brown look on my eyes. Here are some photos (please excuse my shiny forehead and asymmetrical eyebrows):

green and brown look
(sorry for the mediocrity) Haha!

eeek! brittle looking lashes! hahaha!
I am so not a mascara person!

close up on one eye

Products used:

In2it Eyeshadow Duo (Void)
Loreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow Quad (Twist-n-Shout)

Benefit Creaseless Cream Liner (Towne Car)

Nichido Eyebrow Powder Kit
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara (Dark Brown)

Makeup I Cannot Leave Home Without

For some reason, I cannot leave the house without any makeup on (no matter how little or made up it may be). It's some kind of a confidence booster I guess. So here's a short list of what I can and cannot go without:

(1) Brow powder - I cannot leave the house without applying brow powder. I use Nichido Eyebrow Liner Duo Kit. My brows aren't naturally well-shaped. In addition, they tend to thin out towards the end. Although I don't groom them in a thin line (I go for somewhat full but not so bushy brows), I still need brow powder to add some definition.

Nichido Eyebrow Liner Duo Kit

(2) Eyeshadow - I love applying eyeshadow if I have enough time. But eyeshadows are not necessary for me, especially when I'm in a hurry.

(3) Eyeliner - Another makeup product that I cannot do without. My HG eyeliner is Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Towne Care (Black). I apply it using either Bare Escentual's Bent Liner Brush or Elianto Flat Liner Brush. I use the latter more often. I used to own an ELF Liquid Liner and I am pretty satisfied with it. I am now planning to get their Waterproof Eyeliner Pen which is more practical to use when on a hurry.

Benefit Cream Liner in Towne Car (Black)

4) Mascara - I am not a mascara person. My mascaras are usually reserved for special occasion makeup (LOL). I just usually curl my lashes before I head out of the house. I have only 2 mascaras by the way (Clinique and Maybelline) which I am guessing are already clumping inside their tubes because of neglect and non-usage. Haha!

Fanny Serrano Mini Lash Curler

(5) Foundation - Just recently, I find foundation application necessary whenever I go somewhere. Earlier on in my makeup life (LOL), powder would be enough when I go out of the house. But I fell in love with the coverage that powder foundation gives. I sparingly apply it using my Bare Escentuals Handy Buki Brush when I don't have enough time.

(6) Powder - I think this is a no-brainer, for an oily-skinned girl like me, powder is my salvation. I apply my powder using a brush (either a mineral powder foundation brush or a mini buki brush).

Avon Powder Foundation (left) and Avon Pressed Powder (right)

(7) Concealer - A definite essential, however I'm still on the hunt for my HG concealer. I liked Avon's but I want to try mineral powder concealer next.

(8) Blush - Nah, not really an essential for me. The reason? I am acne-prone so the skin over my cheeks are somewhat red from post acne marks (but trust me, it's not that bad... well not as bad as it used to be back in high school and college, Haha!)

(9) Lipstick - Yes, definitely. I use an almost nude shade for day wear and a pink shade for night wear. Click here to see my lipsticks.

My NYX Lipsticks

I do not use/own the following cosmetic products so they are definitely not on my list of essentials:
(1) Lipliner
(2) Makeup base - I just simply use my Nivea Sunblock for this purpose.
(3) Eye makeup base
(4) Bronzer/Highlighter/Luminizer/Contouring Powder - I plan to get a bronzer soon though.
(5) Lipgloss - Yes ladies, I do not use lipgloss. I don't want to further emphasize my already thick lips (LOL).

So there you go, if and when I get better at applying makeup, I am sure to definitely add more essentials in my list. But for the time being, these are the makeups that I cannot leave home without. Till my next post lovelies! Xoxo!

My Skincare Regimen

To give you a little background, I have oily acne-prone skin (which started to manifest as early as my freshman year in high school = when I was 13). And yes, I still do get the occasional bumps especially before my period starts. It is a chronic disease for me with remissions and exacerbations (LOL).

I've been visiting dermatologists practically my entire adolescent life! I believe I've tried 3 but kept on coming back to Dr. Judy Evangelista even if her clinic is miles away from my home. Well yes I am satisfied with the results but somehow those pesky cystic pimples keep on coming back (mainly because of GENETIC MAKEUP, stress and hormonal imbalance --- in my case that is). I really have to stress genetic makeup because both my parents suffered from acne during their days. So yeah, a big share of the blame goes to them. Haha! My oldest brother also suffered from major acne. On the other hand, my other elder brother was more fortunate and only suffered from acne for a few years during his teens.

So after all these years, I've grown sick and tired of dealing with pimples, enduring painful acne procedures, and going back and forth to my dermatologist here in Pampanga (while all the while I was attending college in Manila). I really don't care about them that much anymore. And thankfully, they've decided to take the backseat and spare my face from their routine beating.

Here are some majorly stupid theories on this heavenly phenomenon:
(1) Well they probably just got fed up of popping up my face.
(2) My face isn't that conducive anymore for acne growth as it was back when I was a teen (ok this theory is really gross! haha!)

Whatever the real reason is, I have now accepted whatever I have on my face --- oily skin, uber large and visible pores, post-acne discolorations and some minor bumps all in. I just stick to my skincare routine and pray that they finally finally rest their case.

So just like any normal person, I cleanse, tone, and moisturize my face every single day (morning and evening) of every single week of every single year that I have so far been breathing since (LOL).

In addition, I apply sunblock after moisturizing in the morning. I do not reapply throughout the day because... I just don't (haha!). I exfoliate using a mild facial scrub once a week (this is ONCE a week not ONE DAY in a week --- because one day would mean exfoliating twice a week, one in the evening and one in the morning). Why am I being so technical about this? Haha! I also apply anti-acne gel (Adapalene) to my acute cystic pimples just to dry them up a bit faster.

Oh well, I am also planning to add a once-a-week facial mask application to my routine. I am hoping to try Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque which I believe is available at Healthy Options. Another thing I would like to try is a post-acne mark lightening/fading cream. Although I don't have any idea which product to get.

Here are the products that I use as of the moment:
1. Teranex Bar Soap - I divide it into 3 equal parts to make it last longer (can last me up to 3 months).


2. Clean and Clear Toner - any Clean and Clear toner variant works well for me. Before this, I was using the regular one (blue liquid in clear bottle).


3. Olay Total Effects Moisturizer (Blemish prone/oily) - I love it for its salicylic acid (may be a bit drying for certain areas of my face tough).


4. Nivea Refreshing Fluid Protect SPF 30 - does not dry to a matte finish. Not very ideal of oily skinned folks. Will be replacing it as soon as I can.

(photo from kikay.exchange.ph)

5. Differin (Adapalene) Gel - works better than Benzoyl Peroxide (for me at least)


6. Clean and Clear Facial Scrub - I was too lazy to take a picture of my tube so I just got this from the net. It's not the exact variant that I use by the way.

Update: Instead of the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, I purchased a Black Charcoal Peel-Off Mask from Saizen.