Hi folks! This is late and I am sorry. -_- But anyway, the winner for last April is Jennifer Fosgate! She gets a free Flawless Laser Hair Removal session. Congratulations!

For May, I am giving away my favorite things from none other than Snoe. Snoe is a great local brand because it makes some of the most unique beauty products for such an affordable price. I want my commenter of the month to experience the best this brand has to offer, so I asked Jen (the owner of Snoe) to sponsor this gift pack full of my fave Snoe products. Thanks Jen!

The winner will get a Snoe Beauty Hair Heroes with Intense Argan Oil, Suntervention SPF80 sunscreen, Oil for All pure moroccan argan oil,  Snoe Body Spritz in Honey Dew Melon Yogurt, and a Snoe White Beauty Bar in Exfoliating Oatmeal. Fantastic stuff, I tell you! Read my reviews to know why.

I've been awake since 5 am today and so many things have been running through my head. Work, random bits of information, what I'm going to say online today. Those kinds of things. In the wee hours of the morning when I am the most alone, it's my dog who keeps me sane.

So! It's going to be an extremely busy week! To kick it off, here's a review of a couple of Estee Lauder CyberWhite Brilliant Cells products.

I'm not really into BB creams per se, but I do like tinted moisturizers when they actually have skincare benefits. The Estee Lauder CyberWhite Brilliant Cells Extra Intensive BB Cream is a skincare product first and makeup second. It doesn't have much in the way of coverage, but my skin always feels smooth and bright after using it.

It's the kind of product you throw on when you just want an evened complexion and SPF protection (it has SPF35). It does stay on for at least four hours, and works with my combination oily skin once set with powder.

The fact that women still worry about virginity makes me sad. But it is a very valid concern, because virginity (for some irritating reason) is still attached to how a woman is valued by society - like proverbial meat on the dating market. Here is S's concern about virginity, and what I think about it.

Hi. I'd like to ask for your opinion on virginity and the value of being a woman. Does a woman's value decrease when she's lost her virginity? Like, should she have looked after herself before her wedding night and she's dumb for not doing so? I've read forums by Filipinos and there are some men that say they prefer virgin women over non-virgins for marriage while it's okay to play around and have girlfriends that are non-virgins.

I, for one am no longer a virgin and I'm concerned that when I find the right person he might turn away because of my non-virginity. Also, I think it's quite chauvinistic for men to want to be gifted with a "pure" woman to marry when they themselves aren't "pure" (in terms of religion and morals) to begin with.

I know God detests premarital sex and I vowed to wait till marriage but the uncertainty of what this truth may bring to future relationships scare me.

There is an unfortunate scarcity of good, locally-available eyeshadow bases in the country. I talked to a couple of people who works with local beauty brands, and you know what they said? They don't make eyeshadow bases simply because there is no demand for it. Filipinas aren't really that advanced when it comes to makeup application, so they don't have a need for an eyeshadow base.

In other words, only people who know makeup know why they need a proper eyeshadow base. And not a lot of people really know makeup, so let's pat ourselves in the back! :P

Anyway! Good thing that ArtDeco is back here. Why? Because the brand has one of the most popular eyeshadow bases out there: the ArtDeco Eyeshadow Base (P450 at Beauty Bar). I tried getting this three, two years ago, but it was always out of stock! Swear. There's a lot of rave reviews about it online, even getting a solid 4.3/5 at Makeupalley (98 reviews). 

So is it worth all the attention? Well yes, but I am not going to give it a mega rave review. Here's why!

What I love about the product

• It intensifies eyeshadows extremely well - perhaps even better than UDPP. This ArtDeco base doesn't dry up immediately, so a coated lid grabs more pigment compared to the cult classic. 
• Eyeshadows are easier to blend on top of this compared to UDPP.

Pro tip: if you're too lazy or too proud to layer on makeup, at least have the decency to keep a lip and cheek tint on hand. It looks natural and takes no time at all to apply! One tint I like is the Majolica Majorca Blood On Cheek Tint. It's idiot-proof and so pretty to look at, too.

So, if you want to get one (or restock!), you can score it at 50% off in Deal Dozen. Yes, it's only P250 there! FYI. ;)

Last April was rich with memorable beauty finds. It has been a good month for me! And so, without any further ado, here's my top ten best products for April.

Headlining the list is the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. This tool is life (or should I say LASH) changing! Now I always have luscious and curly lashes even when I'm not wearing mascara. Try it if you haven't yet and forget about the price tag. Seriously.

Next up, I have the Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara. As promised, it gives me fuller lashes that still look natural. I love the effect! I just hate the removal time, because this is one hell of a mascara to wipe off!

The Avon Shine Attract Lipstick may not be as pigmented and long-lasting as other Avon lippies, but still, it's a great everyday lippie that requires a minimum amount of effort to perfect. Oh, it's also super moisturizing and smells like gummy bears.

People tell me, "Wow, I wish I had naturally curly hair like yours." and I would always reply, "What I would give for straight hair like yours!" Straight hair is so low-maintenance, for me. There are also so many styles you can cut it, whereas there's not much you can do with curly hair.

But enough of wishing for things that cannot be! While it's true that the grass looks greener on the other side, it's also true that the grass is greener where you water it. So let's stop bitching and work on what we've got, with everything we've got! Obviously, this doesn't just apply to hair trouble. ;)

Speaking of hair trouble, I would love to present a new find of mine: the Kérastase Elixir Ultime (P2,215), a serum that's the perfect combination of four beautifying oils: Argan, Maize Sprouts, Camellia and Pracaxi. I've tried a variety of creams, gels, and liquids to style my hair but there is nothing quite like it. Here's why!

Why I LOVE the product

• It makes my hair feel silky and smooth like you wouldn't believe. I currently use a drying, hypoallergenic shampoo so I have to moisturize with conditioner afterwards. Bu

Beauty savings tip: you don't have to spend more than P500 for a crazy good eyeliner. Sure there are exceptions to the rule (I love the Kanebo Kate Gel Eyeliner and Majolica Majorca Automatic Liner) but even then you don't have to go beyond P700, tops! 

A recent crazy good eyeliner find is the NYX Slide On Pencil (P360 at Digital Traincase). I got it in Purple Blaze, a deep yet electric purple shade that has a bit of glimmer. 

Why I love the product

• This eyeliner is extremely creamy and glides like butter on the lids. No tugging or pulling on the delicate skin around the eye area.
• Doesn't smudge or budge during the day. It's water and rub-resistant.

I have always maintained that a healthy diet and exercise is the best way to lose weight. Eat less, move more, is what I'm sayin'! But - there's always a but. Not all of us have the will to exercise or regulate eating, which is why we may need a bit of help in the dieting department.

Recently, I've taken to drinking CarbTrim (P144 for a box of 6 sachets) regularly - about two months now. A friend who lost a lot of weight said that it worked for him so I thought I'd try it.

One sachet is good for a huge glass like this. I drink it once or twice a day, before meals.

Before anything else, know that I am not connected to CarbTrim in any way nor have they contacted me to write about them. I buy CarbTrim regularly because, believe it or not, it worked for me. I have lost 6 pounds in the last month, when I started drinking everyday and eating less. The month before I was just drinking it every other day and eating a LOT.

WHAT IS THIS SORCERY

CarbTrim is a juice drink that claims to reduce the absorption of carbohydrates in your body. Basically, it's supposed to block carbs.

Color blocking remains as one of the biggest trends this 2012. Before, there were rules on which color goes with what but now, everything goes! That is incredibly fun, if you ask me. I think that everyone should express themselves with something as basic and enduring as color.

I've done several colorful looks before, but here's the most recent one I wore last Sunday. You'll see the bright iridescent green eyeshadow matched with an electric purple eyeliner and a reddish gloss. I decided to keep the cheeks and lips understated since I was just off to the mall, but if I were going to an event, I would probably go for a bright pink lip!

PRO TIP: When doing colorful eyes and lips, it's best to leave your cheeks bare. Contour with an apricot blush or bronzer to get glowing skin that doesn't compete with the colors you already have on. Here I used the L'Oreal True Match Blush in Golden Apricot - I love it! This blush really complemented my Pinay skin without looking overdone.

Okay, so here's the contest part: L'Oreal Paris has partnered with Project Vanity to bring FIVE readers to Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2012!

My healthy obsession with blue is far, far from over. It's the color of my summer because it feels so cool and calm, a sharp contrast to the burning heat outside! Blue puts me in a good mood, is all. I have no idea why some of the connotations of blue are sadness and melancholia.

Anyways, I just wanted to share more blue outfits that I've worn recently, plus the new blue Aldo bag that I got last Friday!

Nine West bag / Forever 21 blazer / Bench dress / Ferretti pumps / Pinkbox leather bracelet

I immediately grabbed this candy-striped Bench dress when I saw it on the racks. I normally don't like bold stripes (horizontal ones at that!) but I like the color combination and the dress looked so flattering on me.

I love receiving and opening packages. Unfortunately, I'm not the only one. I got a pink box from Korea last Friday so I was extremely excited to open it...but a certain pomeranian got to it first. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I'm not kidding.

To wit:

"A box from Etude House full of goodies! Yaay!"

"OMG IS THIS MINE. CAN I OPEN IT."

"But - "

"BUBBLE WRAP MY FAVERIT THING."

"We need to recycle that Snaps. Stop popping the bubbles! Hey!"

No one sent me a letter for advice this week, hmp! I'm hurt, you guys! You need to give me something to work with! Haha. Okay, to hopefully encourage you to email me, I will send a gift to the chosen letter sender - could be skincare, could be makeup. I will ship it to  you as long as you're based in the Philippines. 

Please keep the letters coming!

For this week's Liz Says, I will just answer a question I received on the forum. Clarissa asked:

Hi Liz. I've always been a fan of your blog. I'm starting my own today, but I would like to ask...How have you achieved everything that you have achieved? How did you start out and how do bloggers get in to blogger events, etc. I'm really curious! Thanks!

This is a bit of a tired topic since I've answered these questions several times in the past, but since it's 2012 - hey why not. I started beauty blogging in 2008. I was still in college and starting to really get into  makeup. I've been learning so much, reading reviews and watching tutorials, that I decided to put up a blog to share all my cool finds and tidbits of beauty wisdom. Snap, it was that simple.

My family was not rich. We're comfortable, but not loaded enough that I could ask my parents to buy me expensive makeup. So like any teen I started with Ever Bilena, Nichido, and Avon makeup.

To be honest, I don't actually spend a lot of money on makeup. I've been running this blog for four years, and in that time a lot of brands have come to support it by sending free stuff my way. I'm very thankful because this allows me to write regularly and of course discover products that I will keep on using waaay after I finish my first tube or jar.

That's why it's a big deal (for me) whenever I buy any beauty-related product. I may not need it per se - not at this point in my collection - but it must be so good that I just gottahaveit. My best seal of approval comes with personal purchases. If I bought it, then it must be worth the money.

One of my recent beauty purchases is the Studio Makeup Pro Shadow Shading Brush (P745 from Beauty Bar). I first saw it in an event and promptly fell in love. It looks like a MAC brush I've been seeing around but it's much more affordable, so I just went ahead and got it!

I have many other similar brushes but I like it because it looks professional with its the sleek black handle and sturdy-looking silver ferrule.

We women love our skincare potions, but of course that's not all there is to it. We still need novel solutions to small yet equally important concerns. Say, where to get a hand sanitizer that also doubles as a hand moisturizer? Things like that! That's why I'm into Snoe. This brand isn't just about cooking up great face and hair care products, it also addresses our daily needs as women.

Snoe recently released new products that I am loving right now (surprise, surprise). Here's my favorite among them - the Snoe Oh My Wash (P169)!

I'm used to feminine wash that smells a little clinical and obnoxiously soapy, so this pink Oh My Wash! is quite the breath of fresh air. Really, it smells quite fruity. I would hazard a guess of pomegranates?

Have you been to Bonifacio High Street Central yet? It opened to the public last December with only Jamba Juice in the area, but now a lot of great restaurants have set up shop in the park slash mall. We love dining there (check out Elias and Aria Cucina!) but it seems that there'll be more to BHSC than good food.

Ever New, the Australian clothing brand, will open this Saturday, and next week they'll have French brand Promod on board! So cool. If you want to be part of Promod's exclusive launch, today is your lucky day. :D Three winners will get to join me at the opening plus they'll receive P1,500 worth of GCs which they can use at the store. Here are the details!

Promod will launch its newest store at Bonifacio High Street Central on May 17, 2012, 6:00 PM and they would like to invite 3 lucky readers to join me to their launch! 

IMPORTANT: Before joining this giveaway, please MAKE SURE that you're available on the said date & time.

Mechanics:

1. Like Promod's Facebook Page.

2.  Comment on this post with your full name, e-mail address and answer the question: “Why do you love French Chic Fashion?” 

Royal Effem is an Italian cosmetics brand that caters mostly to professional makeup artists. Laboratori Royal, the manufacturer of Royal Effem and Oe Organic Elements Skincare, has been around for 50 years so you know they know makeup intimately!

The sleek black packaging and wonderfully pigmented products make them a nice addition to a MUA's kit. Today I'll be talking about one of the brand's best-selling products: the Royal Effem Compact Creamy Foundation (~P1,600).

This cream foundation is pretty good in terms of coverage, so much that I don't even use concealer anymore! It doesn't cover marks 100% (the really dark ones) but it does a pretty good job of hiding everything neatly. You'll see a photo later.

What I love about the product

• Heavy coverage fills in pores and blurs out most imperfections. It can moonlight as a concealer for light blemishes.
• Finish is quite nice, straddling the fine line between glowy and matte. 

Hi folks! Just sharing some alerts I got on my inbox. ;) There's a tantalizing Suyen brands sale starting today -70% off, gasp - but it's in faraway Trinoma. Oh well, shop for me?

Press info up ahead!

There is a way to look fresh, fab, and fashionably cool without switching your spending into overdrive mode. Join your favorite brands from Suyen Corporation, Charles & Keith, Pedro, F&X, CC-OO, CPS, La Senza, and Kashieca, as they BEAT THE HEAT this summer at the Trinoma Activity Center from May 10-12, 2012. With prices up to 70% off, summer doesn’t get any cooler than this!

Thinking of what to give Mom on Mother's Day? We've made it easy for you! Get her flowers - on a dress she can wear on special days!

I've been a lot more diligent about documenting what I wore lately. It's a great way to keep track, for myself more than anything. I also like to fantasize that my outfits are interesting, but not so interesting as to be utterly unwearable. :P

Anyway, yesterday I went to the Ferretti office for a meeting and this is what I wore! It was super mega hot, and I knew I would be out the whole afternoon and early evening. I just dressed casually with my fave Ferretti espadrilles and the Bench shirtdress I've been rambling on about.

I accessorized with some silver pieces then topped the look with a semi-forgotten pair of earrings from Naccara. Shame that I don't wear them more often!