I apologize for taking forever to publish my makeup tutorial for the Vintage Glam look I pulled off last Christmas. I know this is way, way overdue but I hope you'll still watch, like, rate, comment, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel.



Featuring products I came to love and are now my favorites from 2014:

From Happy Hauler Ph: (http://happyhaulerph.biz)
- LittleBaby Blossom Baby Base
- Chifure UV Bi-Cake Foundation with SPF33
- Naturactor 151 & 171
Review: http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2013/07/naturactor-review-how-to-cover-up-acne-blemishes-concealer-foundation.html

By Benefit:
- Stay Don't Stray
- Fake Up
Review: http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2014/12/sweet-shoppe-november-2014-bdj-box-7-day-challenge.html

By Heroine Make:
- Volume & Curl mascara
- Heavy Rotation Shiny Jewel eyeliner
Review: http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2014/07/bdj-box-elite-be-your-own-heroine.html

Fanny Serrano Two-Way Cake Foundation - http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2014/10/mac-studio-fix-powder-plus-vs-fanny-serrano-two-way-cake-foundation.html

Pixy blush - http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2014/05/april-2014-bdj-box-pixy-exclusive.html
Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade / Etude House Color My Brows - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Zo1-HXWWo

Colour Collection High Definition Lipstick - https://instagram.com/p/wnnvPzFSoi

Naturactor Silky Lucent loose powder - https://instagram.com/p/vYQBpUFSrN

3S Pre-glued Lashes - https://instagram.com/p/w-0sgNFSvc

Lucido-L Styling Milk (Curl) - http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2015/01/blonde-ambition-how-to-maintain-bleached-blonde-hair.html

Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder
Urban Decay Naked 3 palette
Nyx Wonder Pencil

Favorite Brushes from Sigma:
Sigma P88 flat angled brush - Click HERE!
Sigma F80 flat kabuki brush - Click HERE!
Sigma E45 Small Tapered Blending brush - Click HERE!
Sigma E40 Tapered Blending brush - Click HERE!

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Feb 22, 2015 at 7:49pm PST

#BDJBOX

My 2015 started with the biggest beauty kick off with my January-February BDJ BOX containing my favorite full-sized Japanese products worth PHP 2,764 plus the vouchers. The beauty box is worth basically 4 x the cost of the monthly subscription which is only PHP 580! Whoa! I feel so lucky and loved!

I'm pretty sure you're familiar with these products already as I have featured them before in my blog but I'm doing the BDJ BOX 7-Day Challenge so here goes nothing.

DAY 1


I've used Pixy powder foundations in April of last year but this time I got two different shades. Since they didn't necessarily match my current skintone, I found a use for them by using them to contour and highlight my face. The Two-Way Cake Fit in Tropical Beige (PHP 275) is dark for contour and the Coverlast (PHP 325) in Natural is for highlight. The two way cake  is a great long lasting face base that can be used wet or dry depending on the look you're aiming for and the Coverlast is super awesome at covering blemishes + controlling oil plus giving you a smooth, even, and natural look! Pixy is a favorite brand of mine that you can buy locally at selected Watsons stores and it is very affordable, too!

DAY 2


Don't be a bed head! Wake up with super sleek, frizz-free, & more manageable hair with Lucido-L leave-on overnight treatment oil (PHP 295). For straighter hair that allows fingers to run through easily from roots to ends! Also it smells fruity and wonderful! I also use the Lucido-L hair supplements, the Curling Milk and the Styling Milk for Straight hair (PHP 295), depending on what I'm doing with my hair. For me they are great setting lotions that nourishes your hair at the same time.

DAY 3



Pixy blush (PHP 345) in Carnation Bloom for a sweet innocent look that's perfect for any date. Ahem! And you know, not just for Valentines Day because it's just the right peachy pink color for an everyday natural cute flush. It's got the right amount of pigmentation to ensure that and I never end up looking like a clown.

DAY 4



Pixy Eye Shadow (PHP 315) in Sorrel Brown is all you need for a casual daily look. I've been using this all week and I'm loving it to bits! It makes your eye pop without really trying. You don't even have to be a pro at applying it because it glides easily and one swatch of color gives enough pigmentation.


You can take the the light shimmery peach color and lightly dust all over the lid and/or on the crease like I did, then take the dark taupe-brown and use it as eyeliner alternative. You can use this to further define your crease, too, as in transitioning from day to night. Easy-peasy! Can you guess what shade of lipstick I'm wearing in the photo above? This is also from Pixy!
DAY 5



Using the same Sorrel Brown eye shadow palette from Pixy with this Day to Night makeup transition with one shimmery peachy shade and one taupe-brown shade. From neutral to smokey eyes. Again, it is very easy to apply and won't take up space in your makeup kit. The eyeshadows last a decent 4-5 hours without primer. It's buildable, too!

DAY 6
I've been using the Bifesta makeup remover (PHP 419) since 2013 and I find absolutely nothing wrong with it so I continue using this to remove stubborn waterproof makeup. It's also water-based so you can use it when you're too lazy to wash your face before hitting the sack. And what's more? It's also a toner!  It comes in 4 variants. When I was breaking out, I used the Sebum one to help control the oil on my face. If you haven't tried the Bifesta makeup remover, grab one now!

DAY 7

Sunkiller Perfect Strong A with SPF 50 (PHP 495) is the most ultra-light sunblock I've ever tried! Honest! It even dries up matte just like powder and is a great face primer methinks. It claims to be resistant to sweat and water, which I have to test soon when I'm off to bask in the sun this coming summer season. It also contains a menthol blend for a cooling sensation. OMG! Can there be a more perfect sunblock than this??? No more sticky icky feeling during the hot and humid season! I give this my two thumbs up!!! You definitely need to try this!

CONCLUSION:
The best thing about these Japanese products is that they are friendly to the Filipina skin and even the shades match and complement our skintone. This is basically the reason why I'm partial to Asian products over imported ones from the US. Our climate/weather is also something to consider when purchasing makeup. Because we live in the tropics with heavy torrential rains, I highly recommend beauty products that are waterproof and sweatproof.

Press PLAY ▶️ for my completed @bdjbox 7-day Challenge for January-February. Japanese products are great for Filipina skin! Don't believe me? Check out my blog at www.bastaigatsikat.com to know more about these Kawaii must-haves! 👍 #bastaigatsikat #makeup #instamakeup #beauty #bdjbox #bdjbuzz #bdjbox7day #bdjboxjanfeb #instabeauty #bblogger #beautyblogger #fotd #motd #muotd #eotd #lotd #pixy #Bifesta #lucidoL #sunkiller @bifestaph @pixyphilippines @lucidolph @bdjbuzz

A video posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Feb 19, 2015 at 8:44pm PST

There you go, folks! All these products I used in my #BDJBOX7Day Challenge are going to be mainstays in my beauty station and I see myself buying these Kawaii must-haves for a very loooong time.

PRESS SAMPLE

#CosmoBeautyCrush

Everyone had already started talking about it in the blogosphere since January and so it definitely piqued my curiosity. What is it? It's no other than PANTENE PRO-V's 3 MINUTE MIRACLE CONDITIONER! Then 2 weeks ago, I received a wonderful surprise from BDJ Buzz. They sent me this BEAUTY MIRACLE!!! Gaaaahhh!

In other news, it's time to make that switch! Everyone's talking about it and soon everyone can also try this. I'm waaaayyy excited to take a shower already and give my hair some extra lovin'! 💗 Time to #MakeMiraclesHappen with @pantenephilippines! Thank youuu @bdjbox & @bdjbuzz for sending me this to be one of the first to experience the #PanteneMiracle before it hits the stores. ☺️ I'll write my review on my blog soonest! ✒️ Stay tuned! #unboxing #bastaigatsikat #bdjbox #bdjbuzz #pantene #hair #instahair #haircare #instabeauty #pinay #beauty #beautyblogger #bbloggers

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Feb 3, 2015 at 1:36am PST

So naturally, I had to try it and test it out (just finished the whole tube actually!) before I make my full review which you can read below. But first things first, I am writing my honest review based on my own experience and absolutely uninfluenced by anything. Okay, moving on.

#MakeMiraclesHappen

The first thing I noticed about the Pantene Pro-V 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner is that it is a beefed up version of their already awesome Total Damage Care conditioner. I've used Pantene Pro-V on and off my whole life so I'm already a fan of them. Noodle Boy actually prefers this for his unruly mop of hair because it's the only thing that tames his curls. As much as we love the scent of the regular Pantene shampoo and conditioner, we both love the scent of this new 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner even more. Why? Because the combination of fresh wild strawberry and raspberry accord enveloped in a floral creamy heart underscored with warm vanilla is quite addictive! You really must try it yourself to appreciate the refreshing feeling that can only come from a fruity and floral scent combo. It's very delightful to the senses. But that's just my opinion though since I know some people may be sensitive to certain fragrances. You may or may not like it. Either way, you'll have to try it!

#PanteneMiracle

Based on my experience, Pantene Pro-V hair conditioners never fail to give me touchable smoother hair and it just got better! Because now it's got 80% more of the key conditioning ingredient that can be found in the regular Pantene conditioners we've all come to love over the years. This means it performs way much better in transforming your dry and even brittle hair into super soft, beautiful mane. Not only that, but studies also show that 8 out of 10 Filipina women have given Pantene Pro-V 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner high scores when it came to improving hair health, helping repair damage, leaving hair smooth, strengthening hair, preventing split ends, and providing immediate results.

Here... you can judge for yourselves.

Introducing the new Pantene Pro-V 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner.

I don't know anyone who play with their hair as much as I do, so as far as damage is concerned I know where I stand. However, I do use a lot of hair products to keep my crowning glory in optimal shape. But then I tried the Pantene Pro-V 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner and I just had to believe all the hype... because it's the TRUTH! How come? Because it does indeed smoothen 3 months of damage in as fast as 3 minutes! As soon as you apply the creamy but also gel-like consistency of the Total Damage Care conditioner, you'll know and feel the difference immediately. Hair gets insanely soft! I am not kidding you! I must admit I don't know the nitty-gritty about what it is that makes this miracle happen as I am no scientist, but one thing is for certain, my hair has NEVER EVER felt this conditioned before! *Cross my heart!* One can really say it is more than a conditioner, it's simply a miracle.

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Feb 16, 2015 at 2:29am PST

In order to keep brassiness out of my bleached hair, I have to tone it every now and then. And what better way to do it now than with the use of the Miracle Conditioner from Pantene! Using a semi-permanent dye like Manic Panic's Purple Haze, I now have a revised DIY purple toner.

My home-made purple toner.

Of course, if you only need to tone your hair, don't add in too much purple like I did because you'll end up with purple hair! You only need a little bit of the purple coloring to kill the ugly orange-y streaks. Keep in mind that the longer you leave it on, the more colored your hair will get. There is no exact measurement but to check for the right amount of coloring, you can refer to my previous post about hair toners.

http://www.pantene.com.ph

In conclusion, I have nothing bad to say about the Miracle Conditioner, except that I wish they came in a liter or a gallon! (Because I like buying things in bulk or in volumes!) I do believe that it's already available in the market and you can purchase the Pantene PRO-V 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner in Total Damage Care and Hair Fall Control variants for Php159.00 (180ml) and Php259.00 (340ml).

Take a leap of faith and experience the miracle!


Who wants to win a Mango bag? Watch the video below and join the giveaway!



Here's all you have to do to enter the giveaway:
1) Post on Instagram a photo of your hair after using Pantene 3 Minute Miracle.
2) Follow and tag me on Instagram: @bastaigatsikat
3) Also follow and tag on Instagram: @BDJBuzz
4) Use the following hashtags: #PanteneMiracle #MakeMiraclesHappen
5) Caption your photo with your answer to the question - “Why is Pantene 3 Minute Miracle your newest beauty crush?”

Please follow the mechanics above to qualify. For Philippine residents with a valid Philippine address. This giveaway will end on March 4, 2015. One winner with the best answer will win a MANGO BAG from @bdjbuzz! Good luck!

Contrary to what most people believe, it is not in December when the cold season peaks here in the Philippines. It is actually in January to February that the temperature goes down and you can feel the evening breeze send a chill down your spine. At least that holds true here in the province where the air is noticeably chilly this time of the year.

It may be a far cry from the arctic freeze or the winter storms in other parts of the world, but being a tropical country, we sometimes forget to prepare our skin for the change. I can obviously tell my skin thirsts for water and moisture because I start getting dry skin, mild urticaria, and even dandruff.


I was using Olay Natural White soaps earlier on, so imagine my delight when Olay announced their latest body wash! It came in a lot of different variants so when Sample Room, which is the Philippines' first ever beauty and lifestyle sampling website, released the Olay Moisture Outlast Beauty Wash, I was literally on the edge of my seat trying to get a hold of them all before they ran out of samples. These products were a surefire hit! It was out of stock almost immediately and I had to wait for a restock. It was a good thing my points were enough to get them altogether. I'm so glad they included the body scrubs since I was about to purchase a new one. What an added bonus! Because I use lotions, scrubbing my skin is important to get rid of any dirt or impurities accumulated. Also it suds up the product and I love getting all foamy during bath time.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND REVIEW:

Since I shower 2 x a day, I got the chance to alternate among them for review purposes and so my readers can make an informed decision on what they might want to purchase on their next trip to the supermarket, drugstore, or department store. It is available in two sizes 200 ml for PhP105 and 400 ml at Php199.
Let's start with my favorite of these body washes, the Olay Whitening Moisture with Pearl Extract. Why this? It's too soon to say I've noticed a major effect on skin lightening but since it matches with my current shampoo and conditioner with pearl extract, I think they have a kind of synergistic effect during my shower routine. Also it smells ahhhhmaaazing! I can't even begin to describe it!


Short anecdote. During the first time I used it and as soon as I stepped out of the bathroom, my husband, who was drinking his coffee a couple of feet away instantly inquired loudly as if making a statement, "What is that wonderful smell?" I couldn't stop giggling, not because I was standing awkwardly only wrapped in a towel trying to describe a particular fragrance, but because this guy who has been living with me under the same roof actually noticed something different. The fragrance even overpowered the aroma of coffee!!! So when Noodle Boy commented, I knew right then and there it's going to be my favorite and well, what's not to love about it when the love of your life would want to sniff you, touch your soft skin, and get close to you all the time? *wink*
Then there's the Olay Clean Moisture with Coconut Milk. This body wash gave me a whole new level of experience! You know, I've tried other coconut-infused soaps and body washes before but this is the most moisturizing and sweet-smelling of them all! When I used it and worked up a lather, I closed my eyes and I was imagining the gentle sound of the ocean waves crashing to the shore, the sweet salty smell of the sea, the island beats playing in the background, the warm coconut oil on my skin as I'm getting a massage, and the cold piña colada drink waiting for me. Ahhhh!!! So delightful! I wanted to take a bath forever! It's like I'm on a summer vacation!


I also allowed my son to use it during his bath time before bed and the scent is just as captivating to my senses. I wanted to bite him because he smelled like the delicious home-made bukayo that my mom makes. In case you're wondering what bukayo is, that's native coconut macaroons. It is also known as bocarillo or candied coconut strips. It's a pain to make really but I go crazy about it and definitely one of my comfort foods. But I digress. Anyway, this body wash is definitely very comforting to my skin as it moisturizes it completely and lasts throughout the day.

Now the third one which is the Olay Deep Moisture with Honey is a sweet thing of beauty. It is certainly the most moisturizing of them all! I love using it at night after a day's hustle and bustle. The foamy lather is so easy to work up and the scent is so sweet I feel like I'm in Candyland! Both my husband and my son like turning our room temperature colder than I'd like it to be, so my skin gets really dry during this time around. But then I was pleasantly surprised that it was moisturized all night and I don't even need to put on any lotions! And what a wonderful feeling it is being free of any other product that would somehow stick on your sheets at night. Good night and sweet dreams indeed!


So if I have to sum up the things I love about these 3 Olay Moisture Body Washes, it would be:

1) The scent. Everything else is triggered by the sense of smell for me and each body wash provides a different experience.

2) The moisturization. Of course, it isn't Olay Moisture if it's not moisturizing enough now, is it? And yes, Olay delivers the promise of long-lasting moisture splendidly with their 24-hour moisture outlast technology that penetrates skin's surface layer by layer. Actually, I find that I don't really need to use lotion anymore even during the day after using the body wash. And now not bothering with lotions anymore, my skin still feels soft and tender and I can imagine my pores singing "Hallelujah!" because they can finally breathe!!!

3) The rich lather.  Like I said, I like them foamy as if I could disappear into the bubbles. And my son loves the foams, too, and looks forward to bath time! Yayyy! No more pressuring him to go get washed up! Thanks a lot, Olay!

What I don't like about it? Absofreakinglutely nothing! Like sinceriously. (And I'm not paid to say that or make this review, okay?) You see, rather than adding to the hype of this product or something, I'm simply sharing with you my actual experience so that you can also get a feel for it.

Olay, an internationally renowned and premium skin care brand which is trusted by millions of women worldwide, is offering us more than just a body wash. Olay Moisture Outlast is a truly stellar Beauty Wash that features the following:

1. Will improve 5 signs of healthy skin – moisturized, firm, natural skin tone color, smooth texture and comfortable feel
2. Has naturally derived moisturizers that penetrate deep while leaving skin with a clean, silky feel
3. Naturally draw moisture deep within skin for truly healthy looking skin
4. Offers breathable moisture that rapidly penetrates but rinses off clean for a silky skin feel
5. Is infused with replenishing moisture serum that penetrates deeper into skin’s surface to help improve the health of your skin.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!!

You see those two big ones in the photo above? That's the Olay Refreshing with Cucumber and Green Tea and Olay Cooling with Strawberry and Mint body washes. These two are perfect for the upcoming summer months when the temperature gets scorching high and it will be extra humid again. I'm pretty sure I'll be looking forward to more showers and bath time in the new few months with these two around. I'll be reviewing those soon so stay tuned for that!

Hope this review will help you decide what Olay Moisture Outlast body wash to include on your next grocery list and don't forget to check out Sample Room to see if you can score any samples first!

For more info, follow:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlayPhilippines
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OlayPhilippines
Instagram: http://instagram.com/OlayPhilippines