Before my blonde ambition, I was rocking the brown-haired girl next door image. But back then, I could never quite get the perfect eyebrow color match with all my powders, wax, and pencils. Until I found out about eyebrow mascaras! This was unheard of when I was still in college which was probably why I only had a thin line for brows because I thought that was better than mismatched light colored hair and dark eyebrows. It wasn't until I became a makeup enthusiast that I discovered that eyebrow mascaras do exist!

Anyway, for this post I'll be doing a review and a comparison of the MAC brow set in GIRL BOY ($16 or Php 950 in Rustan's) and the Etude House Color My Brows #2 (Php 348). As you can see, the latter is much cheaper but how does it perform? Let's let the photos paint a thousand words, shall we?

In the blue corner weighing 8 grams or .28 US ounces, we have the infamous Brow set from MAC in Girl Boy.

It's a fawn-blonde shade that is perfect for those color treated hair from chestnut to ash blonde. Basically, if you dyed your hair a shade of medium to light brown, then this would be very ideal. If you want a darker color, there's one called Beguile which is a full-bodied taupe shade. You can also opt to get the Show Off color which is a rich brown shade.


With my current blonde hair it's not really the perfect match for it because like I said, this is much more suited to those who have dyed their hair brown. It's great at setting your eyebrows after you have them filled or drawn in. It can also be worn solely without powder underneath as it deposits enough color to lighten your eyebrows for a more natural look.

Eyebrow with MAC Brow Set in Girl Boy

Moving on... at the red corner is our challenger, Color My Brows #2 from Etude House. It is fairly small compared to the MAC Brow Set as it is only 4 grams or .15 US ounces. You could say, it is half the size as well as half the price!

I think it's a good alternative if you don't want to splurge on the MAC Brow Set just yet. It is also perfect for those who have dyed their hair brown as it tints your eyebrow hair with lovely brown/gold tones. The size is also perfect for travel.


There are three shades of Color My Brows but I found the #2 to be the most versatile one. If you just want to lighten your black eyebrows, then this will do the job just fine. It deposits a lot of product that absolutely changes the color of your brows even if you haven't filled them in yet.

Eyebrow with Etude House Color My Brows #2

So who wins this battle? Both of them are winners in my book. It's a TIE. The MAC though has an advantage for being a high-end makeup product but Etude House is also gaining a lot of raves mostly by Asians who have access to the brand. Both of them perform extremely well at "changing" the color of your eyebrows temporarily and they both can be removed easily by a makeup remover or Wet Ones. I actually haven't tried removing them with just water because my nightly routine consists of using a makeup remover or makeup wipes first before washing my face for deep cleaning.

Some reviewers claim that the Etude House Color My Brows tube can last up to 4 months, so if that's the case and since it's half the size of the MAC Brow Set tube, then it's safe to say that the latter should last a good 8 months. I still have to confirm this when my products run out. Etude House Color My Brows comes out cheaper even if you buy 2 tubes of it only for Php 696. However, if you buy the MAC Brow Set from legit online sellers like La Belle Boutiquaire (who has got the cheapest beauty and makeup prices on Instagram and Facebook), you can get it for Php 890. Until then, here's my rating.

OVERALL RATING:





I give them both 5 stars because as of the moment there's really nothing I don't like about them. Splurge or save? It's really up to you.

P.S. These products are not sponsored and this blog review is based on my personal experience with using the MAC Brow Set and Etude House Color My Brows. On another note, we still got giveaways ongoing... Try your luck and check 'em out!




TWITTER ★ http://twitter.com/mrsnoodleboy
FACEBOOK ★ http://facebook.com/bastaigatsikat
INSTAGRAM ★ http://instagram.com/mrsnoodleboy
PINTEREST ★ http://pinterest.com/mrsnoodleboy
BLOGS ★ http://www.bastaigatsikat.com ★ http://www.mrsnoodleboy.com

You see, the best part of winning the blogger challenge and become part of Avon Philippines Makeup Council is not the free makeup, but the experience to be with top Hollywood makeup artist, Lauren Andersen. Her clients include Madonna, Jessica Alba, Kim Kardashian, Ginnifer Goodwin, and many others. I'm a total greenhorn as a beauty blogger so I take this as a huge opportunity and come hell or high water (quite literally with the crazy weather in Manila!), I braved it all and even bought mad expensive plane tickets just to go 550 km and attend the event.

Lisa Lamberty, the executive director for Avon Color R&D, and Lauren Andersen, Avon's Global Celebrity Makeup Artist flew in from the US for a series of AVON events.

Was it worth it? YOU BET! How did I survive 2 sleepless nights + travel? Red Bull, of course. But that's beside the point. I was super glad to be there because aside from learning makeup techniques, I got to meet some of the Makeup Council beauty bloggers, accepted my certificate, and took home some goodies. I even got to ask Lauren personally if it was just her who usually come up with celebrities' looks and according to her, it's a collaboration. She asks them what kind of look they're aiming for and then she creates looks based on her clients' preferences and the clothes they'll be wearing. I've been applying some of the makeup techniques I've learned from her and it's pretty cool because the looks I've been coming up with are so much better than before. So yayyy!



I should have worn shoes with heels but since I was traveling far and packed light, my pair of Converse sneaks is my saviour. (Can you imagine walking up and down NAIA terminal 3 with killer heels?) Never mind that I was a bit off of the dress code, too. Tee hee. The ladies of the Avon Philippines Makeup Council are so fab (except me!) and I was leagues away from these city girls. The thing is though, Avon is for everyone. So I think it doesn't matter where you're from because YOU CAN MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL.

Katsy Faustino, Apol Marie Duque, Jean Monique Sanchez, and yours truly.

And now, may I present the AVON PHILIPPINES MAKEUP COUNCIL!


Remind me to buy a pair of Isabel Marant or Skechers wedge shoes (available at ZALORA.PH!) to gain some height especially during events like these. LOL. Anyway, here's a photo op with Lauren, who is absolutely gorgeous with her doll face and all. She is so slim and slender and looked very young considering she's been in the business for a long time!


I feel so blessed and I thank God most especially for this wonderful opportunity which seems to tell me that my journey to the world of beauty blogging and perhaps a career as a makeup artist is indeed blossoming. I am thus inspired to become better in all of these. I also want to share with my readers, my family and friends, everything that I will be learning along the way. I definitely will be doing more makeup tutorials including tips and tricks as well as more beauty reviews and everyone's favorite, more giveaways!

What goes around comes around and because I wouldn't be able to make it if not for your support and love, I'd like to give back what I can to the community. Speaking of which, please don't forget to join Bonjour Bella! x Basta Igat, Sikat! Avon Thanksgiving Giveaway!




Thanks for droppin' by my blog and do come back soon because I'll be updating this blog regularly! 'Til then!



TWITTER ★ http://twitter.com/mrsnoodleboy
FACEBOOK ★ http://facebook.com/bastaigatsikat
INSTAGRAM ★ http://instagram.com/mrsnoodleboy
PINTEREST ★ http://pinterest.com/mrsnoodleboy
BLOGS ★ http://www.bastaigatsikat.com ★ http://www.mrsnoodleboy.com

Once again, I would like to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for supporting me when I joined the competition to be part of Avon Philippines Makeup Council.


I just arrived home from the workshop in Manila (why do you have to be 500 km away?!?) with Avon where hollywood makeup artist, Lauren Andersen, talked about makeup and demonstrated looks for us to recreate using Avon's amazing new makeup collection. I have nothing but great things to say about their new makeup and not because I'm now an Avon partner but it's just vibrant and very pigmented with lots of colors that you can play with. Lisa Lamberty, the executive director for Avon Color R&D, was also there to answer our questions and told us how the makeup is developed and made. I'll post another entry about that but for now, let me thank you again for helping me make it into Avon's Makeup Council.

Anyway, I believe that what goes around comes around. So to show my gratitude, my new friend and gorgeous blogger, Monique of Bonjour Bella and I are doing this giveaway below where you can stand a chance to win a beauty loot containing our favorite makeups from Avon's new collection.


One lucky reader gets to win the following fabulous items:

• Avon Skin Goodness Moisturizing BB Cream with SPF 20/PA++ in Nude - my current moisturizer-slash-primer-slash-foundation ALL IN ONE!!! So happy when I got it from the special edition GlamourBox.
• Avon SuperShock Max Mascara in Black - my current HG mascara! LOOK!
• Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quad in Purple Pop (used in my How To Look Like Barbie or a Disney Princess makeup tutorial)
• Avon Ultra Glazewear Lip Gloss in Mauve Movement (used in my Summer of '69 makeup tutorial)

WE LOVE THE BB CREAM because… it is easy to apply, it gives a sheer and matte finish, it covers imperfections, it looks natural, it works perfectly as a primer, and it smells so good!

WE LOVE THE EYE SHADOW because… it is very pigmented (even when used dry), the color that you see is the color that shows when applied (what you see is what you get), it wears all day, it is easy to blend, and it is perfect when you you want a brilliant pop of color!

WE LOVE THE MASCARA because… it adds volume and length, it curls the lashes even without an eyelash curler, it is waterproof yet easy to remove, and it makes our eyes look sooo beautiful!

WE LOVE THE LIP GLOSS because… the shade is great for any skin tone, it gives shine yet it is not sticky, and it moisturizes the lips as well!

Wanna try them, too? So what are you waiting for? JOIN THE RAFFLE through the app below:

This contest is open to all readers in the Philippines aged 13 and above. If you are abroad, you can still join this giveaway if you have a mailing address in the Philippines. Deadline for entries is on September 6, 2013 at 11:59PM (GMT+8). The lucky winner will be randomly chosen using the Giveaway Tools app and will be double checked for validity. The winner will be formally announced on September 7, 2013 and will be posted on our blogs and various social media sites. Within 48 hours after notification, the winner must send an email (use this contact form) containing her name, shipping address, and contact number. If the winner fails to email us within the allotted time, we will draw another winner.

Good luck everyone and remember we can make it beautiful!


TWITTER ★ http://twitter.com/mrsnoodleboy
FACEBOOK ★ http://facebook.com/bastaigatsikat
INSTAGRAM ★ http://instagram.com/mrsnoodleboy
PINTEREST ★ http://pinterest.com/mrsnoodleboy
BLOGS ★ http://www.bastaigatsikat.com ★ http://www.mrsnoodleboy.com

I'm not a huge fan of the Lannisters. But I love GAME OF THRONES!!! I'm all for Team Targaryen but before I can get that silver hair, I must bleach it like crazy and sport this golden hair ala Joffrey Baratheon. Ugh. God, I wanna smack that kid's face and slice it like Fruit Ninja or Vegetable Samurai. Anyways, I'll show you how to bleach your hair at home at an immense fraction of the cost of getting it done professionally. That's Php 300 vs Php 3,000 at least. Of course, I don't really recommend this if you're not very gutsy or if you're such a perfectionist. However, if you want to experiment with your crowning glory, then by all means, read on.

You'll need these things.

Bleach powder (Php 90), large tub of keratin hot oil treatment (Php 198), and Mondes Vol 40 12% developer (Php 80)

In addition to the 40 vol 12% developer (or 9% if you think the 12% is too strong) and the bleach, you'll also need of course, the plastic bowl, spatula/comb or dye applicator and a keratin treatment. The latter is super important for bleached hair because you're literally killing your hair so this will make it all soft, smooth, and looking healthy again. I prefer to use HBC/Hortaleza and Mondes products because my hair likes them and their products are pretty inexpensive plus they work extremely well. I am in no way sponsored by them. I buy my hair products and only share with you the ones I recommend. If you prefer to use other brands, you can do so.

Okay, now mix the bleach and the developer. For this, I used 80mL of developer or oxidizing lotion to 15g (or 20g?) of bleach powder. (Actually this was too much for my pixie cut, so I gave the rest to the ladies helping me out at home.) IMPORTANT: Please wear gloves because not only will your hands smell like cat piss, the mixture will burn your skin!!!

See here: http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2013/06/hbc-hortaleza-ash-blonde-v2.html

The bleach was too strong that I had tears in my eyes within a few minutes of application. I cried like a baby!!! HAHAHAHA! I lost track of how long (or how short!) I had it on because I had to wash it out immediately. My scalp was ON FIRE!!! I think it's either because I used the 40 Vol 12% developer or I have some open areas from scratching my head so much. I think I'm getting dandruff from styling wax and gels on my hair. Tsk tsk tsk.

Look! I'm a Super Saiyan!!! Vegeta's not too happy about it! LOL

Bleaching your hair works really fast especially if you have light brown hair. You can check periodically and if the desired color is achieved, you can wash it off. However, it is not advisable to let the bleach stay for long because it is very irritating to the scalp. For dark hair, you may need to keep bleaching your hair 3-4 x in a span of weeks or a month because it will cause so much damage to your hair. Thus, the keratin treatment. You can buy the small tub for less than Php 100 but I bought the large one because I know I'll be using this one a lot.

Tinkerbell, is dat chu?

It's so brassy. I wanna die. JK! It's like a doll's hair and I'm like a KPOP artist. LOL! So I decided, as per advise of friends, to just go ahead and bleach it again, but this time only using 9% developer. I wanted to get my hair lighter. After all, I don't wanna be Team Lannister!!! Again, you're NOT supposed to do this. You've got to give your hair time to rest and recuperate before bleaching it again to lift the color some more.


My scalp was a little bit itchy but I was able to let it stay for a longer time because there was no real irritation nor burning on my head. Thus, I was able to achieve a lighter shade and it's now more or less yellow. None of that weird orange-y bronze tint.

With matching bleached eyebrows now!

Also It's actually not advisable to bleach your eyebrows... as my mom pointed out repeatedly. So annoying because it my hair, my eyebrows, my life. I can do what I want. Hmmpf. Plus it's not the first time I've broken a spoken/written rule. "YOLO!!!!!!!!!!!" says MyMaria, the rebel. Anyway, I used an old mascara wand, washed and cleaned, then dipped it on the bleach mixture. This one is per Noodle Boy's suggestion because he once also bleached his hair and eyebrows back in 2004. I'll post his old pic during one of these #ThrowbackThursday times.


This involves a lot of risks and I am not an expert. Bleaching your eyebrows will take a lot of guts. NO GUTS, NO GLORY, right? Let the professionals do it if you're such a scaredy cat. Tee hee. Since I live in the province and most people here are super conventional, you can only imagine the stares I get and the reactions of people who see me. But I am no Maria Clara, never was and never will be, so it doesn't affect me and it doesn't bother me. If you are one that cares about what people have to say about you, then bleaching your hair to death (literally)  is not for you. Go be safe and boring with a chestnut brown or mahogany color. *wink* See? Being blonde has its effect. You get some weird confidence (even bitchy?) that you don't know you have in you and I think I now know why Miley Cyrus is the way she is now. LMAO!


Anyways, after keratin hot oil treatment, my hair now looks really golden, like Lannister gold. Yayyy!

No makeup/No filter. But look Ma, matching hair and eyebrows!!! HELL TO THE YEAHHH!

I need to get a hold of violet or purple shampoo to tone it down some more so I can get that Targaryen silver hair and maybe even make it lilac or lavender, too. :) Oh, blondes really have all the fun! I can't wait to try those semi-permanent and vegetable dyes. There's blue, pink, green, purple, the list goes on. Of course, they are safe to use and I wont risk further killing my hair. Also for the keratin treatments, I plan to do weekly (heck, maybe even 3 x a week if I have to!).

From ASH BLONDE to GOLDEN BLONDE (Lannister Gold)

So there you have it. Just 24 hours ago, I was a brunette and now I'm blonde! Awesome, huh?! Another task accomplished. WOW! Being 30 sure is fun! I am old enough to know better but young enough to do it anyway. Tee hee. I still got many things to do before I die, but for 3 decades, I've got no regrets, have lived my life to the fullest, and got no WHAT IFs on my mind. Say it with me... BASTA IGAT, SIKAT!

I am happy. :) Are you?

UPDATE: My hair has gone PLATINUM... Well, almost. 
READ ABOUT MY BLONDE AMBITION Part 2 -- HERE!


TWITTER ★ http://twitter.com/bastaigat_sikat
FACEBOOK ★ http://facebook.com/bastaigatsikat
INSTAGRAM ★ http://instagram.com/bastaigat_sikat
PINTEREST ★ http://pinterest.com/mrsnoodleboy
BLOGS ★ http://www.bastaigatsikat.com ★ http://www.mrsnoodleboy.com

Hello, peeps! If you've been following me on Instagram, you'd know by now that I'm a huge fan of the brown smokey eyes look. I use it most of the time and even did it for my mom's eye makeup using the +Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked palette. Basically, you'll need only 4 colors for this. A shimmery white, a matte nude, a shimmery golden bronze, and a dark brown shimmery eyeshadow color.

#FOTD. #SelfieSunday

I really like this look. I can't explain why but I think because it complements my skin and it makes my eyes look bigger. I tried to see if it would work on mature women, and surprisingly it did. Here's my mom with the same eye makeup.

 And here's a BEFORE & AFTER photo of her:

It's not rocket science but if you want me to do a step-by-step tutorial for this look, let me know so I can make a blog post. :)

Moving on. With the amount of makeup I put on to make my skin look decent and hide all blemishes and acne scars, I never skip cleaning my face at night and risk further exacerbating the condition of my current acne-prone/sensitive/oily skin. Worse. Combination. Ever.

Enter BIFESTA CLEANSING LOTION.

I got this from Martha of The Beauty Junkee which I won from her giveaway and I've been using it for some time now.

This is the Age Care variant and it is a makeup remover that works as well as cleansing oils sans the greasy feeling. I sooooo love it! Also, it's from JAPAN!!! (But you already know how I feel towards Japanese brands and culture.) Anyway, it works great with my skin and as soon as I finish this bottle, I'm definitely going to buy the Bifesta SEBUM Oil Remover variant as I think that would be the perfect match for me. In addition to being an awesome makeup remover, accordingly you can also use it as: (1) a toner, (2) a makeup setting spray, (3) a freshening mist, and (4) a charged kind of water to enhance the coverage of powder eyeshadows and dilute thick liquid foundation. Hmmm. Interesting enough, huh?

So how does it perform? Check out the photos below.

On a cotton pad (ball or tissue), moisten it with a few drops/pumps of Bifesta Cleansing Lotion then for removing eye makeup, hold it over your eye for a while before carefully wiping it off downwards to avoid contact with the eyes.

Et voila.

Transfer complete. LOL.

I went on to clean half of my face and amazingly enough, it removed all the concealer and foundation I used to hide all imperfections.

I tried to take off my matte lipstick using it and it didn't quite get the job done plus it tasted soooooo bad. I swear, I'm never using it to remove lipstick again. Tee hee. But as a makeup remover, I highly recommend it. I still needed to wash my face afterwards because I'm OC like that. But for lazy girls who come home late after partying and are wary of sleeping with makeup, then this is for you! FYI, you don't need to wash your face after using Bifesta Cleansing Lotion. It's a cheap alternative to Bioderma Crealine H2O (micellar solution) in my opinion, although I've never actually used that one because it's exxxpensive and out of my budget. Boo. But then again, if funds allow or I win it as a prize, then I would also like to try it to see what the fuss is about.


For now, I'm good with the Bifesta Cleansing Lotion. It has a mild scent that's totally negligible. For a big 300mL bottle that comes with a pump, it's only Php 419.00 at Watson's for which, depending on usage, could last for 2-3 months. There are 4 kinds, namely: Sebum  for oily skin (oil remover), Moist for dry skin (deep moisturizing), Bright Up for skin discoloration (whitening), and Age Care which is the one I'm using for anti-aging (deep nourishment).


OVERALL RATING: 





So what's your favorite makeup remover? Got any suggestions or recommendations for my skin? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for droppin' by my blog and do come back for more beauty reviews soon.

I found a few photos of my mom from the 60's and they serve as an inspiration for this tutorial. Also, if you've watched too many James Bond or Austin Powers movies, you know where I'm getting at. This is my Summer of '69 Color Fantasy makeup look brought to you by Avon cosmetics. Read on for the step-by-step tutorial.


This is a very easy 8-step process to create a bright look that will make your eyes pop and cause people to double take. Hey, people stare so make it worth their while. Teehee. Pictures may take a minute or two to load but hang in there... it'll be worth it! :)

LEMON ZING color is #1 on the AVON True Color Eyeshadow Quad PASTEL SWEETS palette.

SILVER CHROME color is #4 on the AVON True Color Eyeshadow Quad PASTEL SWEETS palette.

"Wing" your liner a bit if you want those sexy cat eyes. Meowww.

This technique will make it look like you have more lashes than you actually have!

AQUA color is #3 on the AVON True Color Eyeshadow Quad PASTEL SWEETS palette.

Curl your lashes if you need to and wait around 15-30 seconds in between applying coats of mascara.

Colorful eyes - CHECK, just the right amount of blush - CHECK, and barely there lips - CHECK. It's lovely, isn't it? :)

Summer of '69 Color Fantasy Makeup Look by MyMaria

Now this is what I call a modern pin-up glam mama! I think there's no excuse not to look primped and prettified just because you have a toddler to take care of and a young family to raise. In fact, it should inspire you to embrace life and have fun as you journey on. No matter what your age is, you're never too old to doll up! YOU MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL!!!


It's easy as 1-2-3! You don't even need a lot of products. For this look, I only used the following:

I know my eyes are a bit red since I haven't gotten enough sleep due to juggling work schedule and errands/chores. They don't hurt though and I didn't even realize it until I uploaded the photos for the blog post. :( I'll do better next time. Nevertheless, I hope you liked this tutorial and if you have any looks that you would like to see me recreate, let me know. Thanks for visiting my blog! 'Til then...

*Makeup provided by Avon Philippines for the Blogger Challenge Finals. You can follow AVON on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and FACEBOOK.

P.S.

HELP A SISTER OUT!!! I, MyMaria/Ramen Girl/MrsNoodleBoy, want to join Avon Philippines Makeup Council because I, too, believe in the art of sharing the love of beauty online. And together, all of us, WE CAN ‪#‎MAKEITBEAUTIFUL‬. 

If you like this look I made, please support me as we are on the FINALS week for the Avon Philippines Makeup Council Contest. Spare me a few seconds and VOTE for my entry at http://on.fb.me/1635Kfb - EVERY VOTE COUNTS! 

(Using your mobile or device won't open the link? Try here: http://woobox.com/55ad5r and CLICK the VOTE button.)

Thank you so much in advance.  





TWITTER ★ http://twitter.com/mrsnoodleboy
FACEBOOK ★ http://facebook.com/bastaigatsikat
INSTAGRAM ★ http://instagram.com/mrsnoodleboy
PINTEREST ★ http://pinterest.com/mrsnoodleboy
BLOGS ★ http://www.bastaigatsikat.com ★ http://www.mrsnoodleboy.com