FanSided-sabshernandez

20 days ago, I posted a Shu Uemura blog contest for the BIG SHU UEMURA giveaway! The Shu Uemura team and I have chosen Ms. Jhessica Recto's entry who submitted a prize winning 60s inspired look complete with hair styling!

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Most women think that brown eyeshadow is only for contouring, only for the creases, and nothing else. The glossies now are filled with colored eyeliners and shadows that poor Mr. Brown is feeling left out. The classic shades of brown's earthy characteristics make it very wearable either for the day or for the evening. Also, for women who prefer to stay away from the spotlight, brown eyeshadow doesn't scream "HEY!". Brown doesn't have to be worn matte and boring.

Allow me to show you this how-to video on how you can wear the classic brown shadow for a night out and sport the Hollywood Glam look!

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From my post yesterday, I told you that I was going to post a Shu Uemura 30th year Video Special so here it is!

But first, let me show you the products I used to create my sixties interpretation makeup look! Thank you so much Shu Uemura for these heavenly products!

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First of all, I would like to congratulate Shu Uemura. Happy 30th Anniversary! That's 3 decades of beauty. I just got home from the event, and I am still on a high. I was amongst my makeup artist and press friends, and the highlight of the evening -meeting Shu's international creative director, Kakuyasu Uchiide. I would like to share with you lots of photos from the event and backstage photos!

Me with Shu Uemura's International Creative Director, Kakuyasu Uchiide

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#travellingbeauty

For those of you who missed my previous blog post about me traveling to Vietnam, I recently went on a vacation to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) last week with my husband, my sister and her husband. The four of us headed out to the sunny city for the first time.

I tell you, from now on, the following products I am about to show you are my travel survival products for a fuss-free and happy trip!

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As a makeup artist and blogger, I am always on the lookout for more affordable alternatives for my readers and clients. Not all of us can afford luxury cosmetics so I am here to give you my version of "Splurge vs. Steal".

Please note that I have personally tested these products, and therefore I would highly suggest you do the same before buying anything. Test them at the counters and always give it time for it to seep through your skin for at least 5 minutes and see if you'll have any reactions.

Our body's acidity varies from one person to the next, so color results may vary. Enjoy!

1. MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam I (P1,000) vs. Kokuryu Moist Lipstick in Sherry Wood (P164.00)

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Now, I have been getting emails from my readers asking me what's a good alternative for Shu Uemura. A good product that is more budget friendly. So it was the perfect time for me to start canvasing. It took me nearly a year to compile the information from different brands (some bottles I finished, some I just gave away).

So, after months and months of testing, these are the products I came up with. I have ranked them from 1 to 6, 1 being the top of my list.

*Before you buy, always, always, ALWAYS test the product first! Apply a tiny amount on your neck or a little on your jawline and leave on for about 5 minutes and see if you have any reaction to the product.*










5. HUMAN HEART NATURE SUNFLOWER CLEANSING OIL (P350.00 P275.00)

Among all the cleansing oils I have tried, this has probably got to be my 5th choice. They didn't have testers in their kiosks so I had to buy one to be able to try it on. As you may already know, I am a sucker for cute packaging and SMELL. Smell of a product is very important to me.

TEXTURE/CONSISTENCY: Quite thick. It takes a bit of effort to massage on your face to remove makeup.

FEEL: The product is thick (maybe because it's au naturel) but I didn't really feel comfortable using it.

RINSE-ABILITY: The moment the water hits your face to rinse it off, the thicker it seemed to get. It was like the oil stuck more while rinsing. Even rinsing under running water in the shower for a full 3 minutes, the product doesn't completely wash away. You will definitely have to rinse this product off with soap or facial wash.

FRAGRANCE: I love the smell. It smells really fresh and sweet.

RECOMMENDATION: If you are the all-natural kind of girl, this product is good. Human Heart Nature sells facial washes too so it'll be a good pair.


4. KANEBO FRESHEL CLEANSING OIL
(P720.00)

I don't know why some people downplay Kanebo. It's a good Japanese brand! And before there was even Shu Uemura in Manila, Kanebo was the Japanese brand to choose!

When it was yet another time to purchase another brand of cleansing oil to review, I was choosing between Kanebo and Revlon's new cleansing oil. Since I was leaning toward Japanese or Korean brands more for cleansing oils, I went for Kanebo.

TEXTURE/CONSISTENCY: It's quite thick. Just like Human Heart Nature and Neutogena. I don't really like very thick cleansing oils.

FEEL: When you apply it dry on your skin to remove the makeup, it's quite thick to be massaging it all over your face. Rinsing is not that easy so you will have to follow with a facial wash. But right after rinsing, it doesn't make your facial skin tight.

RINSE-ABILITY: Difficult. You will have to rinse several times just to get about half of it off your face before you can follow with a wash.

FRAGRANCE: No smell... Yay! I always go for products with either no smell, or a fresh kind of scent (that wouldn't make me woozy).

RECOMMENDATION: Sorry folks, I wouldn't recommend this product (but to each his own, try it yourself. Who knows, you might like it!).




3. PURE BEAUTY PERFECT CLEANSING OIL (P199.00)

I was attracted to it's simple, clean looking packaging. I had just run out of any form of makeup remover in my bathroom, and no more Shu Uemura. So it was time for the cleansing oil search.

This product is made in Korea. As soon as I heard the word Korea, it was considered sold.

So, upon going home, I used this product to clean my face. Here are my findings:

TEXTURE/CONSISTENCY: Smooth and can be easily massaged on the face to loosen the makeup.

FEEL: I wasn't allergic to the product so that was a plus (still, you have to test this product before buying). While I was massaging my eye area to remove my mascara though, it kind of stung my eye but just for a little while. It goes away after you wash your face with water.

RINSE-ABILITY: It's easily removed with water with most of your makeup a long with it. I still recommend using a foaming cleanser after.

FRAGRANCE: This is the only problem with this product. It's supposedly unscented but it has a weird smell that I really want to get rid off with a facial wash after removing my makeup.

RECOMMENDATION: If you don't mind the smell, this is actually not bad!


2. MUJI CLEANSING OIL
(Mild Cleansing Oil - P425.00 / For Sensitive Skin - P625.00)

MUJI has good skin care products. The fact that it is from Japan, of course I immediately trusted the products. Never mind that I can't read what the back of the bottle said. I had to get one.

One of their skincare products that I love using is their Light Moisturizing Milk. It's just divine! So when I came across their cleansing oil, I had to get one to try.

Since I don't have sensitive skin, I was OK with trying the Mild Cleansing Oil.

TEXTURE / CONSISTENCY: The texture is comparable to Shu's. It's light weight and it's easy to massage on the face. You need about 2 pump-fulls to completely dissolve your makeup.

FEEL: I love that it doesn't feel like you're lathering on cooking oil on your face. It feels very light on the face and it doesn't have any tingly or stinging sensations while the product sits on your skin.

RINSE-ABILITY: It can easily be washed with water but it doesn't feel like your skin is completely clean. You will have to follow this with a foaming cleanser.

FRAGRANCE: The smell is very pleasant. It smells clean and fresh. No artificial fragrances added.

RECOMMENDATION: If you're looking for a good Japanese branded cleansing oil, then MUJI is a good alternative. If anyone asks me about it, I would say it was a good product, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.


1. REVLON ABSOLUTE C CLEANSING OIL
(P695.00)

Ok. Some of you may have violent reactions regarding this. I have read really bad reviews on the net about Revlon's cleansing oil but for me, it's actually the one I keep buying for myself and would recommend.

I love that Lancome's former International Artistic Director, Gucci Westman was hired by Revlon and has been creating comparable products with Lancome. Their line of colors have improved and formulations have also changed dramatically ever since Westman joined their company.

TEXTURE/CONSISTENCY: Just right. It's not too watery and not to thick. You can easily massage it to remove your makeup without it feeling too thick.

FEEL: While massaging it to your face, it doesn't feel icky and sticky. I love that when you pump product into your hand it doesn't just run through in between your fingers.

RINSE-ABILITY: You can easily rinse it off with water. It emulsifies with water into a milky substance. After washing the product off, your face feels fresh and clean and the skin is not taught and dry.

FRAGRANCE: It has a strong citrus smell. Like those of lots of oranges. Some people don't like the smell but I personally like it because it smells really clean and revitalizing.

RECOMMENDATION: Lancome and Shu Uemura are still my number 1 recommendations for cleansing oils, but this would definitely my second choice.

So, how about you? What is your favorite Cleansing Oil? I'd love to hear from you! Just post a comment below.


*Special thanks to Google Images for the product stills, and ProjectVanity.com for the photo of Revlon's Cleansing Oil.*

Already, I received almost 10 emails about my bride Lissa Exaltacion's makeup look after I posted her photo in my website last night when I got home from Bulacan to do her wedding. Women asking me what products I used to do her makeup.

Well, ladies! Here are the products I used:

FACE: Lissa has very oily skin. So I airbrushed Lissa's face with OCC's water-based airbrush foundation in Y1, and set it with Face to Face Color Corrective Powder in Yellow. Color correcting powders are ok as long as they are milled super fine as to not reflect on camera.

*tip: Use MAC's #224 tapered blending brush to smooth powder in the eye area to avoid caking.



EYES: For Lissa's eyebrows, I used Christian Semi Permanent eyebrow powder in Dark Brown mixed with Charcoal. Since Lissa's hair is not dyed and was more black than it is dark brown, I had to make her brows blend. Black eyebrows are too harsh.

*pro tip: Don't be afraid to mix colors and products! This is the only way you will find the perfect shade you are looking for. As for brushes? I used to use Fanny Serrano's slanted brow brush but then, I discovered that using a softer smaller brush will make a more precise and well blended brow! I now use Shu Uemura's 4F brush for the brows.

For Lissa's lids, I used Lancôme's Colour Design Eyeshadow in Kitten Heel blended with MAC eyeshadow in Rule and Sushi Flower. Softly blend together to create that nice soft coral color. Then I lined her eyes with MAC's Fluidline in Blacktrack using a MAC precise liner brush #210.