Basta Igat, Sikat! by MyMaria: cosmetics

Review: Cool Summer Days with Biore UV and My First Impressions

* Source : Intage SRI research, suntan UV in unit sales, period: 12/2011-11/ 2014

Rash guards in the Philippines are all the rage nowadays but they don't protect everything. Obviously, your body is covered, but your face is still exposed. Bioré UV specializes in facial sunscreens; therefore, I took some with me during our latest trip to Cuatro Islas to see how effective it is and I am very pleased to tell you that it worked even better than I expected!

I applied the Bioré UV Perfect Face Milk with SPF 50+ variant first because I love the fact that it actually leaves a matte finish that's really, really good for oily skin and I wanted to look fresh on our way to the islands. It's an awesome makeup base, too, since I was able to use my favorite Naturactor and Octard concealers and I do believe it's the reason they lasted longer under the scorching summer sun. I just can't believe how light this sunblock is and it really feels more like a makeup primer! This also comes with other variants for different skin conditions.

Towards the end of our trip and after a sweltering good time in the salt water and under the sun, I reapplied this time using the Bioré UV Aqua Rich Essence with SPF50+ and PA++++ because my face was feeling warm and I wanted something cool on it. It almost felt like putting aloe vera on my skin! It doesn't get better than this variant because of the cooling effect it has on top of the amazing sun protection you're getting.

And at the end of the day, I was ecstatic that I have zero sunburns on my face. It didn't hurt one bit and didn't even feel warm at all considering how white sand reflects so much light.

Sunday #Selfie, because I just had to! Absolutely no sunburns from all the island fun in the sun! My new facial sunscreens from @bioreph are the bombdiggity! Although I missed my ears (don't know how I did when they practically stick out!) and now they're so red! 😳 LOL! But other than that, everything's a-okay! Will post my blog review and first impressions later. Stay tuned! 😊 #bastaigatsikat #skin #skincare #instabeauty #beauty #beautybloggersph #biore #bioreph #summer #makeup #instamakeup #japanese #cosmetics #fotd #muotd #motd #nofilter

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Apr 19, 2015 at 10:35am PDT

So go ahead choose which Bioré UV variant fits you then go out and have fun! If you can make it a habit especially this crazy hot summer season, don’t forget to put Biore UV every day!

Biorè is distributed in the Philippines by Vibelle Distribution, Inc and are available in selected department stores, supermarkets, and retailers in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro. For list of outlets and other inquiries, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BiorePH or follow us at https://twitter.com/BiorePHL and https://instagram.com/bioreph.

Where to buy Bioré UV in the Philippines:

TWITTER ★ FACEBOOK ★ INSTAGRAM ★ PINTEREST ★ YOUTUBE ★ EMAIL

Monday, April 20, 2015
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Review: Avon Over Nature Lipsticks + Swatches

avon

When I dropped by the Avon office a few days ago, a huge poster caught my attention. It was an ad for their newest Over Nature Lipstick line and I couldn't tear my eyes off the damn thing. It was a sight for sore eyes! The packaging of the lippies is so lovely and the price is super affordable, too. I just had to get my hands on them... ON ALL OF THEM! It's like Pokemon all over again... Gotta catch 'em all!

I don't really trust printed or online catalogues when it comes to color so I needed to swatch them myself to see how beautiful the colors truly are and of course, check for the pigmentation. And my goodness, it did not disappoint! Check out my swatches...

And here's a more detailed look into the available 8 colors of Avon's Over Nature Lipsticks.

EXTATIQUE HIBISCUS - a bright pink that reminds me of MAC's infamous Candy Yum Yum. As you can see in their flyer you cannot tell if it's bright at all! In fact, it looked pretty dark. But obviously, it's a vibrant pink that Barbie would kill for.

AFRICAN DAISY - Now this is the color that initially caught my attention when I saw the flyer. I thought it was champagne gold but it's nothing like MAC's Playland. It's more like a light bronze or slightly metallic nude. If you're familiar with L'Oreal's Crayon Grande Lipcolour Pencil in Ginger, then it's more like that but a bit lighter. Imagine wearing it with smokey eyes? That'd be totally hot!

CHERRY BERRY - When I twisted the tube up and saw how dark the lipstick was, I was a bit curious what it would actually look like. Judging from the flyer, I knew it will swatch as dark red and I was right! It's more like a wine red color, so much like my Colour Collection Red Wine with just a little hint of purple in there.

TROPICAL CORAL - When I got Avon's Tangerine Tango, I couldn't get myself to wear it. It doesn't match my skintone for some reason or maybe it's just me developing an aversion to anything owaaange. But giving this shade a chance, I find that it's really pigmented and there's no sign of any glitter/metallic shimmer. Also it's not truly orange per se, but a bright red orange shade. MAC Lady Danger, is that you? I don't believe I've ever owned a lipstick like this, but then again, I just became a beauty junkie last year so what do I know, right? Tee hee.

TENDER TULIP - Now here's yet another shade I'm familiar with over the years but never actually went out wearing it. I do like this slightly desaturated pink shade a lot. But on me... ummm, I have mixed feelings about it. So yeah. this shade is like a lighter version of Maybelline's Make Me Pink.

WILD ROSE - Ahhh, ladies and gentlemen, let me present the perfect red lipstick. At least to me, it is. Step aside, MAC Russian Red. Okay, I know there are so many other brands with reds that are just as perfect, but among all the Avon lipsticks that I own, it doesn't get more perfect than this shade! It's. Really. Red. 'Nuff said.

ORCHID FANTASY - If you follow me on Instagram, you ought to know that I'm still in search for that violet lipstick because I'm having issues with finding the right hue on me and I was a bit sad that this shade wasn't violet enough to my liking. It looked pretty fuschia to me or rather, a strong pink shade or maybe a medium violet red depending on your skintone. But don't get me wrong, because I LOVE IT on me!

PINK LILY - Though I didn't list the colors in any particular order, I'm saving this one for last because it really is my least favorite shade. It's too light a pink for me, although it's really more like a salmon-pink color. I know most people would love to wear this on a daily basis as a casual lipstick and I agree that it really is a good everyday lipstick any way you look at it. But again on me, ummmm, I need some more convincing to make it work.

And if I had to pick my FAB FOUR choices, I'd choose these super pigmented babies:

AFRICAN DAISY, TROPICAL CORAL, EXTATIQUE HIBISCUS and WILD ROSE.

Regular price of Avon's Over Nature Lipstick is Php 399 but right now it's only Php 259! You save Php 140!!! This offer is only good until the end of the month. Oh and you should know that these lipsticks smell sooo good! I have a thing for sniffing lipsticks before putting them on and the Avon Over Nature lipsticks smell like Tutti-Frutti or some deliciously sweet fruity scent. I feel like biting it! Tee hee.

These lipsticks have a satin finish and not matte as I would have preferred. However, as for the staying power, they last around 4-5 hours on me. When I drank water from a glass, some color transferred but I still had plenty of color and stain left on my lips even after a meal. I also have dry lips but the lipsticks glide ever so smoothly on my lips. Very moisturizing indeed and absolutely no tugging! Hey, I'm not paid to advertise this, okay? THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST. But I truly believe that Avon has stepped up their game when it comes to their cosmetics, especially their lipsticks, which is why I am recommending you to pick up one or two of Avon's Over Nature Lipsticks! Hell, just get everything!

And if you do, why not order from me? Tee hee. I am, after all, an Avon Lady now. :) Viber or text +63 919.995.9060 or email me at mymaria@bastaigatsikat.com. For every Avon Over Nature lipstick you get a FREE MAKEUP POUCH!

Hope you find this post helpful. Let me know what you think of these Avon Over Nature Lipsticks in the comments and please visit my blog again for more beauty + skincare reviews. 'Til then!

Eenie, meenie, miny, mo!

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Sunday, May 18, 2014
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April 2014 BDJ BOX Pixy Exclusive 7-day Day Challenge + Mini Reviews

#bdjbox

The April BDJBOX is anything but ordinary. Another exclusive box and this time it's packed with Indonesian-based cosmetics line named Pixy, offering products formulated using the best Japanese technology and ingredients. Their slogan, "TRULY ASIAN BEAUTY", implies of beauty which is revealed via healthy, clean, soft, and bright skin that embodies a truly Asian beauty.

It is summer season here in the Philippines which means the heat wave is no laughing matter. Wearing layers of makeup is not recommended and so I put Pixy products to the test in this crazy weather to see how they fare.

DAY 1.

Tried the Pixy Ultimate Makeup cake today. I got the Natural Buff shade and I swatched it beside my MAC studio fix powder plus foundation in NC30 for comparison. It did a great job at eliminating shine! How I used it? I sprayed some water on a flat kabuki brush and picked up some of the product to buff it on my face. It's medium coverage is buildable without looking cakey... So naturally I loved using it on my face as it did an awesome job with covering up flaws and giving me smoother looking skin! Went out for errands under the 34-degree heat of the sun which actually felt like 46 degrees even in the shade. ☀️ I had to blot my face after 2 hours. ☺️ My FOTD also included Pixy Colors of Delight blush-on in Brown Tea and Silky Fit Lasting Matte lipstick in Earthy Beige.

DAY 2.

I found the perfect blush for summer! It's Pixy Colors of Delight blush-on in Brown Tea! As you can see when compared to my other favorite blushes, it's darker and can even be used as a bronzer/contour. It's not totally matte, although there's just a hint of shimmer which is not overwhelming nor really obvious. It looks a bit orange when swatched on my hand but on my face it blends pretty well giving me a natural flush on the cheeks. ☺️ I'm not at all a fan of brushes that come with most makeup and cosmetics so when applying this blush, I use an angled contour brush to get the product exactly where I want them on my cheeks. This Pixy blush comes In a very handy compact case with no mirror; however, the inside case has a reflective material where you can see your reflection. Very nice product!

DAY 3.

Torn between a matte and a satin lipstick? Here you go! This is Pixy Colors of Delight Silky Fit semi matte lipstick in Haruka (220). For me, this is great for casual everyday wear without looking too made up... you know, "Simply Pretty" ☺️ This pink lippie is hydrating thanks to the Sweet Almond Oil and Vitamin E in it. It also smells rather delicious and sweet!

DAY 4.

For a sheer lipstick with good color pay-off, this Pixy Silky Fit satin lipstick gets the job right. The Colors of Delight Silky Fit lippie in Pinkish Peach is such a lovely shade. In spite of its name, for me I think it's more of a peachy coral than pink which is also great for daily wear and different skintones especially if you wanna brighten up your smile and spread happiness. Easy to pull off a fresh look during these hot summer days with this girly hue from a creamy and hydrating lipstick! Nice one, Pixy!

DAY 5.

The 3rd lipstick is the Colors of Delight Silky Fit Matte lippie in Earthy Beige. I must say that among the 3 ones I've tried, this is my favorite! Why? Because it's Matte but it's not drying at all! Can u believe that? And it's pigmented and long-wearing too! It's such a dream to apply and it doesn't even tug on my dry lips. Ah basta! I am in love with this lipstick and the color is absolutely the exact shade of nude that I love to wear on a daily basis or paired with smokey eyes! Just like MAC Freckletone!

DAY 6.

This Pixy Volumizing Waterproof mascara is not to be underestimated! Come on, look at that! That's one picture that paints a thousand words. It's amazing what a few swipes of mascara can do! Volumizing indeed! My naturally straight and sparse lashes look waaaay much better! It also instantly brightened my peepers and as you can see I'm not wearing eyeliner but my eyes look larger! Wowwwwzaaa!!! I did curl my lashes before applying the mascara, if you must know. Although I don't really like the brush wand coz it's stiff and there's a certain smell to the product... Ummm like newly Xeroxed copies... But with the end result, I can see past all that. ☺️

DAY 7.

Been using this UV Whitening 2-way cake for a week and it's amazing how perfect my base makeup looks! I don't think I'll ever need anything else. There's 2 kinds -- Perfect Fit for dry/normal skin which contains Squalane oil + SPF 15 and Perfect Matte for oily/troubled skin which is anti-bacterial, non-comedogenic and oil-free which contains natural Kenzo extract from Japan. I use the latter and it is really long lasting and I get a shine-free face for 4 hours! Very impressive in this 32 to 34-degree summer heat! The Honey Beige shade blended perfectly on my face and I feel like a print ad model! Hahahaha! You really gotta try it! But mind you, it has quite a strong scent to it. Upon application it smells like Opium (not the drug, okay? I meant the YSL perfume!) or locally, Avon's Imari line comes to mind. It's that powerful. I swore I could have fainted on the spot when I took a whiff but like a curious little cat that I am, I went ahead and used the Perfect Matte. BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE! This powder/foundation is amazeballs! I handed the other one (Perfect Fit) to my mom as she has mature skin and she could certainly use it to prevent dry skin and sun protection. Pixy offers very good shades to complement our Asian skin and it's fairly affordable too! I am in love!!!

PRESS PLAY! ► Beauty blossoms with Pixy! Check them out on Facebook and Twitter. #bdjbox #bdjbox7day

I am very excited that Pixy has come to the Philippines and it should be available in your favorite drugstore chain soon! *wink* Stand by for their announcement on where to purchase these awesome Pixy products. I highly recommend it for Filipinas looking for budget beauty that is not only friendly to the wallet but most of all to our Asian skin.

Here's a price list of their products:

UV Whitening Two-Way Cake Perfect Fit Compact, 12.2 g - Php 275
UV Whitening Two-Way Cake Perfect Matte Refill 12 g- Php 145
Ultimate Makeup Cake 12.5 - Php 445
Colors of Delight Blush-on 3.5 g - Php 285
Colors of Delight Lipstick Silky Fit Semi-matte 3.8 g - Php 265
Colors of Delight Lipstick Silky Fit Lasting Matte 3.8 g - Php 325
Colors of Delight Lipstick Silky Fit Satin Lipstick 3.8 g - Php 245
Colors of Delight Eyeliner Pencil 1.14 g - Php 265
Colors of Delight Waterproof Volumizing Mascara 9 mL - Php 295

Thank you, BDJ BOX, for introducing me to Pixy!

Wednesday, May 07, 2014
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Review: Fairy Girl eyebrow mascara in #2 Mocha

beauty

One of the popular posts I have in my blog is the Beauty Battle between the MAC Girl Boy Brow Set vs Etude House Color My Brows review. Now I am happy to inform you that I found another contender... and this is way cheaper than both of them!

Meet FAIRY GIRL. I got the #2 MOCHA one from Pretty Angel Shoppe. (Thanks, sis!) It also comes in the colors #1 MILKTEA and #3 COCOA.

Fairy Girl eyebrow mascara in MOCHA

It comes with a tiny brush wand for tinting your eyebrows.

I find that the brush is quite stiff and does grab a lot of product. MAKEUP HACK: Don't pump it, but instead just swirl up as you take it out of the tube. Swipe any excess amount on the mouth of the tube. Then brush it on your brows as you do with a normal eyebrow mascara.

You actually need only a little bit of the Fairy Girl eyebrow mascara and you can just brush it all over your brows to spread it out. It dries out fast, too. It can be used with or without an eyebrow pencil underneath depending on how you like your brows done. Note that it does hold hair down in place so you can skip any wax if you require that to set your brows.

#2 MOCHA is great for my current hair color as it is a perfect match! It looks very natural, don't you think?

See how my brows match with my hair better? Before when I bleached/dyed my eyebrows to match my hair, they looked practically non-existent! And I have sparse eyebrows to begin with. So I'm never doing that again... and Fairy Girl eyebrow mascara addresses all my concerns with mismatched eyebrows and hair colors.

Photo taken by my phone, indoors facing outside at mid-day.

It does the same job as my other more expensive eyebrow mascaras and best of all, a full-size tube of Fairy Girl eyebrow mascara sells for only Php200! WOOT! Hurray for budget beauty finds!

Sunday, May 04, 2014
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Basta Igat, Sikat!'s Beauty Box Birthday Blowout!

avon

“Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.”

As promised, here I am hosting another giveaway for my birthday! Whopeeeee! And this time I put together a beauty box containing 11 beauty items for one lucky Basta Igat, Sikat! reader. Check out this video below below to find out what's inside the box.

Excited to be the lucky winner? Please join via rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Basta Igat, Sikat! Beauty Box contains the following beauty products:

CETAPHIL Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15

COLOUR COLLECTION BB Cream Whitening

REVLON CustomEyes mascara in BrownBlack

MAYBELLINE Cheeky Glow in Peachy Scene

(featured here: http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2013/11/october-2013-bdj-box-7-day-challenge.html)

AVON 8-in-1 eyeshadow palette in THE METALLICS

(featured here: http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2014/01/avon-the-metallics-8-in-1-eyeshadow-super-drama-mascara-ultracolor-glimmersticks-review.html)

AVON Glimmersticks eye liner in Blackest Black

AVON Ultra Color lipstick in Hibiscus

(featured here: http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2013/07/barbie-or-disney-princess-makeup-tutorial.html)

WATSON's moisturizing lip balm in Juicy Apple

CELETEQUE DermoScience Advanced Anti-Aging Anti-Wrinkle Ultra-Hydrating Cleansing Oil

NATURACTOR Cover Face concealer/foundation

(featured here: http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2014/04/how-to-cover-conceal-acne-blemishes-naturactor-review.html)

CaiMei MILK Essence Whitening lotion

(featured here: http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2014/02/instant-skin-whitening-canmei-milk-lotion-review.html)

This contest will end on May 31, 2014. Open to my international readers as long as you have a valid PHILIPPINE address to join the contest so I can ship your prize if you are unable to pick it up. The name of the winner will be announced on my social media accounts. Be sure to follow me on FB, Twitter, and Instagram!

Good luck!

Friday, April 18, 2014
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Review: Colour Collection Vitamin E Sheer Lipstick in Pinkish Nude +Smokey EOTD and FOTD!

bastaigatsikat makeup

As a general rule, smokey eyes and nude lips go together. This makes the Colour Collection Vitamin E Sheer Lipstick in Pinkish Nude the perfect shade to complete a seriously sexy look. It's not pink as the name suggests but more of a coral shade.

I find that this lipstick with its sheer finish and formulation does moisturize my otherwise dry lips. I get bad chapped lips almost everyday if I don't use a lip balm. But even without lip balm, this Colour Collection Vitamin E Sheer Lipstick in Pinkish Nude makes my lips look smooth and gives it just the perfect amount of color to complete a glamorous face for a night on the town.

Smoldering sexy smokey eyes + barely there lips
with Colour Collection's Vitamin E Sheer Lipstick in Pinkish Nude

The only downside I found with this particular lipstick is perhaps it's too moisturizing that the first time I used it, I think I somehow broke it off. It wasn't cut into half yet so I'm going to refrigerate it to harden it or something. Maybe it was just too warm inside the package since this was delivered to me all the way from the capital because I ordered it from Sample Room. So it's either because of the heat or perhaps I applied it too aggressively on my lips since it's very sheer and I wanted to see some more color on my lips.

Swatches show that it's very sheer even at 3 x.

Yup, I definitely think that the Colour Collection Vitamin E Sheer Lipstick in Pinkish Nude will come very handy during those times you just want to go au naturel or with very minimal makeup. You won't even need a lip balm for this lipstick because it is hydrating, I tell you. It even made my dry lips look kissable enough. Tee hee.

MOTD / LOTD / EOTD
Big brows with MUFE Aqua Brow #15
Smokey eyes using UD Naked 2 palette
Naturactor concealer #140 + Human Nature Foundation in Island Shell
Nude lips using Colour Collection Vit. E Sheer lipstick in Pinkish Nude

As expected from sheer lipsticks, the color stayed long enough (2 hours max for me 'coz I keep munching bits and pieces of food every now and then). But for the price of only Php 330 for a full-sized 4g super moisturizing lipstick, it beats any tinted lip balm or gloss. It leaves the right amount of color for that natural looking lips and it is perfect for everyday wear. If sheer is not your thing, Tupperware's Colour Collection Vitamin E lipstick also comes in Satin and Matte finishes.