Berry Stain: The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain in Dark Cherry

Most blushes I've ever owned are pinks-- I veered away from the usual pinks twice only to get two (2) mauve blushes. I've been looking for a berry-stained one for a while now just to mix things up. I have a preference for stains since they stay on my face the entire day and I love the idea that they can let my skin breathe. One time at the Office pantry, a colleague suggested the Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain. She even gave us the bottle to swatch-- I fell in love. What I loved even more was that it was available in a berry tint! The Dark Cherry. It retails for P795, but one weekend, Watson's had it on sale, and I got it for P595.

I've gotten so used to watery stains that the thicker consistency took a bit of getting used to. One time, in my haste in getting ready and forgetting that this was far thicker than my previously go-to stain (Benetint) I put on a bit more product and I ended up looking like Raggedy Ann. 

Not that it's hard to blend-- it's very easy! It's just that I put on much more than necessary (HEHE)

It's such a small and light bottle (it only has 7.2ml of product), but a little goes a long way so this tiny, powerful bottle will last a really long time. If you're looking for a perky tint that's blendable-- I highly recommend the Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain in Dark Cherry. 

My Current Lip Balm

Yup, the dry lips problem persists! Well, somewhat abated because of this lip balm I'm currently using. I found that it really helps when I keep applying every few hours so I always have this on hand. Like at work, it's beside my keyboard; I don't even keep it in my bag anymore. I actually used Carmex in the past, and I don't know why I stopped using it for some reason... Maybe because it's in a pot and I found it unhygienic to keep poking my finger in? Oftentimes I would get a Q-tip and use that to apply the product on my lip, but sometimes I forget to stock up on Q-tips in my small beauty bag. I guess i found it just a hassle as opposed to the usual lip balm in stick form.

I have been using this for a week now, and so far, my lips have been doing pretty well! I've also steered clear of matte lipsticks for now, opting for creamier ones like my Laura Mercier Attraction. 

For those of you who are struggling with dry, flaky lips I recommend you try this out. It's just P150 in Watson's and PCX. It's effective and smells amazing-- like vanilla. 

Beauty Review: Laura Mercier Baby Lips Lip Pencil and Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Attraction

Time and again I'd swear off pink lips-- i feel like pink lips don't really suit me. And that they make my teeth look yellow. I think red is more my color. But then something would trigger me to try a new pink. In this case, it was Miranda Kerr's Wedding Makeup Tutorial.

I ~accidentally~ passed by a Laura Mercier store a few weeks ago and thought I'd take a look. They still had a couple of Read my Lips Collection on display and the Nudes tandem were still available. The Nudes includes the Baby Lips Lip Pencil and the Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Attraction. I don't know why they were placed under the Nudes category when they were clearly very pink... Anyway, I wanted to buy just a tube of lipstick but it was such a bargain to get a lipstick AND Miranda Kerr's Lip Pencil almost for the price of one item!

Baby Lips Lip Pencil

Laura Mercier Baby Lips Lip Pencil is such a pretty shade of pink. It's punchy rather than muted-- if they had this in lipstick form I'd totally get it. The product, though in pencil form, is pretty thick and soft. Think lip stick in pencil form. Which was a surprise since the only other lip pencil I have (MAC) was pretty hard-- making it easy to line the lips. First time I tried the Laura Mercier Baby Lips Lip Pencil, I used a heavy hand and i thought I'd ruin the point of the pencil! Luckily I didn't-- but it's not so sharp anymore.

Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Attraction

To be honest, one reason why I wanted to ~check out~ some lipsticks was because a friend had pointed out that I keep buying mattes even though I have the driest lips on the planet. Laura Mercier had some sheer ones with a bit of sheen and the Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Attraction was the perfect shade to try (since I'm in one of those pink moods again). I love that this goes on real sheer--it's a welcome break from the thick creamy matte nudes that I've been so partial to since March 2016. 

{Swatch of Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Attraction and Baby Lips Lip Pencil}

Can you see how sheer Attraction is compared to Baby Lips? They work well together though! These two are my go-to lip products as of late. Hopefully I will get to finish the tube and the pencil before I get tired of pinks again!

Plant Lady

My plant care journey has been pretty long and challenging. I tried with succulents first-- I thought those were easy to care for-- they're not. I tried loving succulents five (5) times actually-- failed at all attempts. 

And then this year-- because I really wanted to have plants in our condo-- I took care of air plants. I read maaaaaany articles saying that air plants can withstand neglect and are easy to care for-- THEY'RE NOT. You have to figure out how much light and water they need-- where to hang them and how long to soak them, etc. In the end I realized, it's such a needy plant it's not for someone who's busy. 

My Mom has a green thumb and growing up I thought I'd inherit that-- I obviously didn't-- until she persuaded me to get these ivy plants; I clearly don't have a green thumb because I don't even know the exact names of these two. But I love them because they are so easy to take care of. I just spritz them with water every morning and place them by the window with the curtains down. I don't want to risk burning them/drying them out like I did my air plants...

If you're considering having plants in your home, and not too happy spending too much, do give these a try. I bought these two for just P35 each and it's such a worthy purchase. They're both growing and the one in the pot is ready for cutting and eventually repotting. 

Finally a plant lady!

Lip Balm Break

So I am now on a lip balm break since I have been having problems with dry, chapped lips for a while now. In seven (7) months I've tried four (4) lip balms already and nothing has worked! While I was searching for another lip balm to try, I came across several articles about common lip balm ingredients that make your lips even more dry. THIS ARTICLE enumerates these possible allergens. 

I haven't been using lip balm -- or lipstick or any lip product for that matter-- for close to a week now (exactly one week tomorrow). There is progress though not significant enough to cut lip products out of my life forever. 

A few months back I came across an article about Margot Robbie refusing to use lip balms because she thinks companies put products that make you keep buying them! The article even said what she uses instead of lip balm. Read it HERE. 

I am THISCLOSE to trying out Margot Robbie's alternative lip balm. If you've tried it or know where to get it, please let me know!

How To: File the Marriage Certificate

If like us your Solemnizing Officer (Pastor/Priest, etc.) will not file the Marriage Certificate for you, read on.

Marriage License vs. Marriage Certificate

Some couples get confused if these two are one and the same. The Marriage License is what you need prior to getting married, the Marriage Certificate is what you get after the Wedding--this (or these... since these are five copies...) will be signed by the couple, the Pastor, and the principal sponsors on your wedding day. I blogged about Applying for a Marriage License too. Read it HERE.  

Who Makes the Principal Sponsors Sign

Remember the forms that you filled out when you were applying for your Marriage License? Those will be taken by your Solemnizing Officer so they can fill out some important details. Come wedding day, he will ask your Coordinator or Best Man and Maid of Honor to have the principal sponsors sign these. It's pretty tedious--especially if you have a lot and those given the task don't know who your principal sponsors are. So best to make sure that principal sponsors sign before everyone leaves for the reception. 

When and Where to File

According to the Philippine Stastistics Authority (PSA), the submission of the Marriage Certificate should be done within fifteen (15) days after the solemnization of the wedding. If you submit beyond that, you will be asked to submit additional requirements. 

Filing of the Marriage Certificate is with Civil Registrar of the City or Municipality where you were married. The Office of the Civil Registrar is usually housed in the City/Municipal Hall, too. In our case, we were married in Alfonso, Cavite so we had to file ours at the Civil Registrar in Alfonso. 

Filing Requirements

1. Marriage License

2. Certificates Signed by the Solemnizing Officer, the Couple, and the Principal Sponsors

3. Solemnizing Officer's License to Solemnize

4. Certificate from the Venue that you were married there

5. Affidavit of Request to be Married in a Place Other than the Authorized Places. Some Civil Registrars are lenient with this; this is required if you are getting married outside the Church or of the City or Municipal Hall.

Delayed Registration of Marriage

Oh the messy part. Apart from the above mentioned requirements, you will also need an Affidavit stating the exact place and date of marriage, and the reason for the delay in registration. 

Similar to the posting period when you applied for a Marriage License, the local Civil Registrar will make a notice to the public on the pending application for delayed registration. This will be posted on bulletin boards of the city or municipality for a period of not less than ten (10) days.

After that, the local civil registar will deliberate on the veracity of your submissions. 

Upon filing for delayed registration, the civil registrar will inform you when to come back for your copy of the marriage certificate. 

The local Civil Registrar will be the ones to forward your submissions to the PSA, and after a few months, you can get a copy so you can update your civil status (and surname?) in your bank and government records. 

When Can you Get a Copy from PSA

I know some couples who were able to expedite the processing of their marriage certificates which allowed them to get a copy from the PSA after a month. A Month! That's fast because it usually takes three to six months. 

I hope you found this useful! If you have any questions on the post, leave them at the Comments Section below.

Photo by Daniel Talavera Photography

September Favorites

 

Straw Bag from Fievre

Starting my favorites for the month with this straw bag that I've been lugging around a lot since I got it. I didn't think I could pull off a round straw bag that I have been seeing so much of lately so I got it in this shape instead. It keeps me from toting around our entire home which is great, because that would mean no shoulder and back pain! This cute little bag can accommodate my phone, my power bank, cash and cards (wallet won't fit), and my keys. 

Gold Hoop Earrings

Have you noticed that these are in vogue again? I remember buying my first pair in gold too back in 2006--towards the end of my freshman year in UP Baguio. They were exactly the same size as these new ones I got from Parfois, except this one is significantly thinner. I remember being shy about the size of the earrings having used only pearl studs so I would wear that gold pair with my hair down at first. 

Tomato Mask Sheet from Nature Republic

I had a colleague who went to Korea early this month and she was kind enough to buy Tomato Mask Sheets for us there. These masks are AMAZING. They really moisturize and brighten the skin. This is hands down the best mask sheet if you want brighter skin. I use this in the evening and when I put on my moisturizer and BB cream the following day, they go on real smooth. Also! The most important reason why I absolutely love this mask: I get cystic pimplessss whenever I'm about to get my period or I've skipped a couple of steps in my skincare routine; so whenever I feel a pimple about to develop, I put this on, and in the morning it's gone. I'm not kidding. Which is why I'm stocking up on these before I run out. A friend recommended Tony Moly's Tomato Mask, too. Is that any good? 

Peri's Ink Velvet in Baby Doll

I love this tint! This stays on for houuurs. I was hounding this on Beauty MNL but it's always out of stock so I was happy that it's now available at SM Makati. I love this tint. When used all over the lips it really brightens up my complexion, but I usually use this for gradient lips. 

L'Oreal Cushion Glow Blush in Rose Affair

I just bought this because I saw a beauty YouTuber rave about it. Before I got this, I was actually considering getting a cushion BB Cream but couldn't find one that will suit my needs so when I saw this in SM Makati, I bought it stat. I love that this has a cooling effect and it's dewy. Think, Korean girls dewy. It's really nice. The only thing I don't like about it is that I have to re-apply after four hours. The color is completely gone-- my cheeks are just left dewy. What I've been doing as of late, is to layer this with a light pink stain. It works better, although this time, the dewiness is completely gone after around six hours. I love the product, but I don't think I'd buy it again--the price for the quality is pretty surprising, too. It's P900.

What are your thoughts on my September Favorites? Leave them at the Comments Section below!

Gone Gold

{Gaucho Pants, Uniqlo | Straw Bag, Fievre}

Or mustard. If you want to technical about it. But in the sun these pants look gold. I love, love, love these gaucho pants from Uniqlo. These are the comfiest pair of pants I own. I actually bought this in navy first, then loved that pair so much so I bought these gold ones (or mustard) as well. I think I found out about these pants too late so they've run out of black in my size :( They have it in white, but the material was way too thin for my liking. I hope they made a thick lining for the white pair. These are garterized (!!!) and fall exactly around my waist. The material is buttery soft and is surprisingly cool even in the heat.

What do you think of these pants? :)

How To: Clean Jewelry

My Mom and my grandmother had trust issues cleaned their jewelry themselves. Whenever I would need to borrow a pair of earrings from my Mom, she would clean them herself using powder laundry detergent--Tide at that. According to her, that's how my Grandmother cleaned hers too. 

When I started buying my own jewelry, I never bothered to clean them (HEHE), except for my engagement ring which I brought to have cleaned professionally. While I was at the jewelry store, the person cleaning told me I could clean the ring myself-- WITH TIDE. The store didn't even bother to charge me with a fixed amount, i just gave him a tip. 

I asked the clerk how it's done, and to my surprise, his instructions were the same as my Mom's. 

No. 1 : Mix warm water with powder laundry detergent (Tide was highly recommended). Keep jewelry soaked for 20 to 30 minutes (though my Mom likes to keep hers overnight).

No. 2 : Rinse jewelry, make sure you cover the drain with a dish so your jewelry won't fall in!

No. 3 : Brush jewelry with a toothbrush. Then rinse again.

No. 4 : Air dry on a paper towel.

You'd be surprised at how sparkly your jewelry will be!

Checked Blazer

I'm perennially cold so I'm pretty happy that blazers are a thing again, especially checked / houndstooth blazers. I've never been one for patterns, but since these are just in black and white, I was down. I got this blazer from Stradivarius for P1995. I was hesitant at first, but since my husband gave me a push and told me that he thinks I can use this for many years, I went ahead and got it. I've already worn this to work, and I'm pretty happy I can pair this with a casual outfit as well. 

I've blogged about my sunnies and earrings HERE. I'd love to know your thoughts on the checked blazer! Let me know in the comments section below.

How To: Gradient Lips

FIRST OF ALL, MAY I JUST SAY, I HAVE A NEWFOUND RESPECT FOR BEAUTY BLOGGERS AS THIS SHIT'S HARD. 

I spent close to an hour taking photos for this Gradient Lips post-- and a gazillion hours editing. I first used Kevin's SLR and boy did that burst my self-esteem. Gird your loins if you'll make a beauty post with an SLR-- it's gonna show every flaw. So I used our Sony Point and Shoot instead. Still flawed AF, but less harsh and also less heavy for taking the necessary selfies for this post.

The album for this post has 92 photos. Seriously. Making a beauty how to is tough.

Anyway, I've been on the Gradient Lips trend for a while now and I really like it. Some people would use a concealer for their base (I STILL DON'T HAVE ONE, CAN SOMEONE SUGGEST A GOOD ONE FOR OILY SKIN?), but I prefer nude lipsticks.

{Tools of the Trade}

Products I used for this Gradient Lips Tutorial

Lip Balm: Shiseido Water In Lip Natural Care

Base: Happy Skin Glam Squad Lipstick Matte Lipstick by Denise Go-Ochoa and Maybelline ColorSensational Creamy Matte Brown Nude Lipstick in Nude Embrace

Tint: Peripera Peri's Ink the Velvet in Dollish Beige Rose

Procedure

One and Two: Put on one swipe of your chosen base. I dabbed on the Maybelline Matte in Nude Embrace to cancel out the Coral undertones of the Happy Skin Lipstick.

Three: Dab the tint on the center of your lips. 

Four: Blend outwards using your finger or a cotton bud. 

Optional: You can put lip gloss on the center of your lips (at the area where tint is darkest) if you don't want the too matte look.  

I'd like to know your thoughts on this beauty tutorial! Let me know in the Comments Section below!