I'm not very choosy when it comes to body wash. As long as it's soapy and smells good, I'm good! It's not like I'm going to leave it on my skin for more than a couple of minutes. Also if I ever get really really dirty, I might as well use detergent. Right? :P That's why I prefer NOT to spend a lot of moolah on body washes and soaps.

I thought I'd share my body-washes-of-the-moment. They're from Avon. I know I talk about Avon a lot, but what can I say - the brand offers some pretty cool stuff! The ones I review make it to my daily routine, so I make an effort to write about them and show my appreciation.

Out of the two, the Skin-So-Soft Soft & White Whitening Body Wash (P330) is my favorite.

My heart always skips a beat whenever I get a package from Avon. They send a lot, but there's always something new that I get excited to share with you guys. This time, it's the new Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Rose Lipstick (P199 intro price).

What's the difference between the UMR Rose and the original one? This collection is done exclusively in ten rose shades - from baby pinks to a deep almost black red - and has a wonderful sweet vanilla rose scent to show for it. The black tube also has a shiny pink band around it, versus the silver of the normal UMRs.

But this is the most important thing: I think they reformulated! The lipsticks are creamier, more opaque, and more moisturizing than ever. They just glide on like a dream without the waxiness of normal lipsticks. Lastly, the annoying glitters are completely gone from this version of the UMR. Before, Avon lipsticks would always have at least two colors with chunky shimmer in each collection, but this time they are nowhere to be found!

And now, for our favorite part: the swatches. Thought I'd show a full face here so you can see how beautiful the shades are. The photos are a little saturated and blurry but in my defense I am still not used to the settings of my new camera. Hope you get the idea though!

French Lace Rose is a delicate nude shade that is brown-based with hints of pink

I know I promised to show Avon's Valenine's offering today, but I haven't done the swatches for the new lipsticks yet so that will have to wait tomorrow. Today I'll just be showing you some of the brand's new releases last January!

They have new variants of the uber-good Skin-So-Soft Lotion, plus body washes in that range. I love the body washes - they smell clean and girly without being overly drying. The jewelry, on the other hand, are in Avon's signature classic style. 

Here be photos and pricing info!

Skin-So-Soft Signature Silk Replenishing Hand & Body Lotion 250 ml. This body lotion works two ways to provide the most sensual, touchable skin. Price: Php 290.00

Being an independent adult is terrifying. Aside from paying all the bills yourself, there are also the decisions you have to make everyday about your career, your relationships, your own well-being - it never ends. On one hand it's cool that your parents don't manage your life anymore, but there's also the risk of making a grave mistake and having no one else to blame but yourself. 

Morbid thoughts for such a pretty Thursday morning, I know! It's actually a good, no, awesome day for me and I am in a merry mood. Just scribbling.

Anyway, I just want to share something new from Avon - their newly repackaged and reformulated Avon Naturals skincare line. There are three variants, namely Rose & Rose Hips, Tea Tree Oil & Green Tea, and Honey & Milk. Here's the product info and prices for your reference!

Formulated to deeply nourish the skin and leave it feeling soft and supple all day long, Avon Naturals Milk & Honey Nourishing Skin Care products bring together honey extract and milk protein that smoothen rough, dry skin, and provide long term moisturizing benefits—all wrapped in a sumptuous honey and milk scent.

There is a dizzying bevy of anti-aging products out there, with extraordinary claims to bring back your skin's youth. How do you find out what actually works? Simple, you try them! After some research on reviews and ingredients, of course.

That said, I want to give you a bit of information about Avon's latest anti-aging product: the Anew Genics Treatment Concentrate (P1,799). It claims to help skin look ten years younger with the help of the brand's patented YouthGen Technology. It is supposed to re-activate one's "Youth Gene", that genetic component in our cells that keeps skin elastic, wrinkle-free, and glowing - young, in other words. 

Sounds too sci-fi? Perhaps, but it is quite intriguing. Promises aside, the quality of the serum itself is pretty good.

When I was younger, I couldn't leave the house without a watch. I felt naked. In the last few years though I managed to wean myself out of my watch-wearing ways. It doesn't make that much sense to wear a watch (for time-checking purposes that is) if you always have a cellphone in your purse or pocket!

So yes, it's been a while. Still, watches can be worn as accessories, especially if they're handsome like this Avon men's watch.

Last year, Avon launched Outspoken, a perfume in collaboration with pop star Fergie. It was designed to be daring and sexy and I think it delivered! This year, Avon followed up the success of the scent with a new version called Outspoken Intense (P999).

Outspoken Intense comes in a silver glass bottle with a cap similar to a crystal decanter's. It's a simple design that won't immediately say "expensive", but once you touch it and hold it in your hand you'll feel that the bottle is actually heavy. It's glass even though it looks like plastic.

As for the scent, I love it! The old version is floral and feminine, but it is underscored by a muskiness that lends it a masculine touch.

I love Avon accessories because they don't tarnish easily and the styles transcend trends. I actually have accessories from Avon that are almost two years old now, and yet they're still very much wearable! I even sometimes see magazine editors in events wearing those same accessories. True story. These are fashyon people ha, and still they would go back to their favorite Avon pieces.

Anyway, I just want to share closeups of Avon's designer line. I already talked about the designers and inspirations here, so this time I'll just show you the photos. They're lovely, as you can see! My favorite is the House of Ungaro collection just because I love flowers and I'm a girly girl. The Shaill Jhaveri line is also gorgeous - it makes me think of Atlantis for some reason!

Ok ok enough talk. Here be photos!

Parisienne Bloom Necklace, P699

Parisienne Bloom Ring, P699

I got this body-hugging dress at Forever 21 some months back and I absolutely love it. However, it's too revealing chest-wise. Too tight. Sorry, I'm such an old lady. I just believe that women look better when they don't bare too much - remember this thing called mystery? Girls my age forget that they're more interesting that way.

So! I wore the dress with a thrifted leather jacket (I know, one of my best finds. Got it for only P250) and an SM necklace to cover up. I love how it turned out.

Forever 21 dress | Thrifted leather jacket | Ferretti pumps | Avon Manzzini bag | Accessories from Parfois and SM

 I also wore these Ferretti pumps for the first time.

Avon makes interesting bags, but the Manzzini Collection is way past interesting. It's gorgeous! So wait, why is the collection called Manzzini? "The name Manzzini was derived from Via Mazzini, a fashion street in Italy reflecting the designs of the collection. This bag line takes inspiration from a Manzzini woman who travels around the world - as she eats, shops and loves," says Avon.

They're more expensive since they're a special collection, but I do believe the price is worth it. I like that the bags have a sort of detachable organizer inside for your stuff (at least, the black one does, I haven't used the cream yet) and that they're very of-the-moment. The material used doesn't feel cheap at all too!

Here are a few photos of the bags in actual.

Manzzini Tote with Mini Purse

Avon used to be known as a frumpy, outdated brand patronized by our lolas and old aunts. Sure it has noteworthy products, but us young 'uns would always go for edgy brands that we can proudly carry around as a sign of well, coolness. Being "in".

However, unless you're living under a rock, you probably know that Avon is quickly remodeling itself as a hip, classy name with more updated products that can compete with the trendy brands we know today.

New Avon rings

Avon proved it with their new designer collection launched last October 20 at Salon De Ning, The Peninsula Manila. Three new jewelry sets designed by the House of Ungaro (inspired by Paris), Shaill Jhaveri (India), and Maria Politis (New York) were showcased to the press that evening, as well as a Manzzini bag collection inspired by Verona.

Here's the designer collection, as modeled during the event!

Ruffa Gutierrez wearing the House of Ungaro x Avon accessories

PRESS RELEASE: “La Ville-Lumière” or “The City of Light” is the setting of Avon’s first international luxury brand collaboration – Parisienne Bloom Collection. Avon invited its guests to enjoy life’s finest pleasures as it virtually took them to the romantic city of Paris.

At this point I can probably fill a small bath tub with body lotion. I'm not complaining though as long as the lotions I get to try are good ones, such as the latest Avon Skin So Soft Lotion in Signature Silk Resplenishing Body Lotion (P290).

Signature Silk is non-greasy, gets absorbed quickly, and smells good - as with most Avon Skin So Soft lotions. It has a subtle floral fruity scent (do I detect a hint of watermelon?) that's quite soft and pleasant.

Been a while since I posted something from Avon here. Recently though they sent me a package with some of their latest goodies, so I'd like to share them with you here as an FYI (for now!). Will definitely be reviewing the new Skin So Soft Lotion since I love this line - it's one of two moisturizers I finished to the last drop this year. I'll also talk about the new eyeliner soon.

Oh, Avon also has a BB cream now! It's only P399 and comes in two shades.

Anew 360° White Transforming Mask (P499)

Anew 360° White Transforming Mask’s fine massage beads stimulate the skin and instantly smoothens the skin by gently removing dead skin cells while Avon’s patented whitening ingredients dramatically whiten skin. 

Foundations even out the skin and soften blemishes, but they don't always give the illumination that our face needs. They usually have a matte or satiny finish so you may need another product to sort of finish off your face in a literal halo of light. Illuminators do this for you by having light-reflecting ingredients that create this subtle haze of light around your skin.

Sounds too complicated? It's actually easy to get illuminated! It's only difficult when you're using the wrong product - by wrong I mean too shimmery, too pigmented, too obvious. I love the Guerlain Meteorites for that instant ethereal glow but for a warmer finish, I prefer to use the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Bronze (P2,300).

Shimmer bomb? As the name suggests, the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick is shimmery in the pan. However, when it goes on your face, the fine shimmer diffuses and isn't really detectable unless you look closely. It's more shimmery than the Guerlain Meteories (which is more on the pearly side) but less pigmented than the NARS Laguna Bronzer.

Pigmentation and finish. At first, I was trying to get it to work like a bronzer by contouring my cheeks and the sides of my face with it.

There are a lot of dirt cheap, awesome brushes out there, but the thing is we often have to dig around for them or accidentally find them. One "accidental" find of mine is this double-ended eye brush from Avon. As I remember this is only P150, but it's another mainstay in my vanity table.

I've actually had this for a few months now. I spotted it in this huge Avon bash at Republiq, just sitting there with no one really paying any attention to it. It was part of Avon's new mineral line at that time, but everyone was cooing about the kabuki brush and of course, the mineral makeup. I was impressed when I got to try this double-ended brush though - it packed a lot of color and applied it smoothly!

There are several reasons I like this brush, but it all boils down to its multi-functionality. This brush is an all-around wonder because the two ends can do your eye makeup in one go.

Last July 14, Avon introduced its Advance Techniques hair care line to the press. The event happened at the plush Marriott Hotel, where the whole ballroom was transformed into a salon supervised by Lourd Ramos, makeup counter with pro MUAs, and a studio where Jay Tablante took everyone's photos. It was a beauty addict's paradise!

Everyone got a wash and blow dry - of course, all products used were from the Avon Advance Techniques line

Jay Tablante doing his magic

The svelte and style savvy Theresa Herrera hosted the program. Avon Director Ashley Ferguson flew in to introduce the star of the show, Lotus Shield, while Sen Yang, a Senior Manager at Avon's Global Research Center, went on a video conference call to talk about the technology behind Lotus Shield.

I did mention before that I'm not a bag person, so I ever rarely buy bags for myself. This is why I super appreciate it whenever I get good bags as a gift. XP I got this plastic/mesh bag with orange pleather straps from Avon. It's where they housed their press samples of the recently launched Advance Techniques haircare line (more on that soon).

It's the kind of bag I can actually bring everywhere shamelessly since there are no tawdry logos or details. It's simple, elegant, and looks well-made. It reminds me a little of this cute line of bags from Furla:

I've had pigmented blushes before, but the Avon True Color Blush in Rose Lustre (P370) is probably the scariest of them all. This highly pigmented cheek color provides a beautiful reddish berry flush that would look great on morena skin. If you have fair skin, a sheer stain of Rose Lustre will look pretty natural.

The trick to using this is simple: when you use your blush brush (forget about the brush it comes with, it's useless) take most of the powder out on the back of your hand. This way, the blush will look natural on your cheeks and you can layer when needed.

MAC will be releasing its Semi-Precious Collection in the Philippines this July! Semi-Precious is inspired by gems (bronzite, black tourmaline, gold pyrite, and lilac lepidolite) that are not quite diamonds, but just as glamorous and glitzy. It mostly features MAC's mineralized blushes, skinfinishes, and foundation, but I think the stars of the show are the split fiber brushes.

It was the eyeshadow that drew me into the wonderful world of cosmetics. I loved the fact that you can paint your eyes with them, just as if you were working with watercolors or oil pastels on paper. Now, I like a pop of color on the eyes as much as I like neutral well-contoured eyes. I find that whatever look one goes for, it all comes down to color combination. Does this taupe look good with this bronze? Does this pink look good with blue? And so on.

One palette that has a seemingly non-coordinated color combination offers a really good color story: the Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quad in Romantic (P319).

What I like about the product

• Great color combination. You think pink, blue, mint, and white gold doesn't work together or looks too much - but you're wrong! They come out pastel, giving off that spring-y vibe.
• Nice packaging.