IAMBRIGITTE

Next to eyebrow makeup and eyeliner,  I think the next makeup stuff that I'd consider an essential is the mascara.  I have naturally thin, stick-straight lashes and I've realized years ago that mascara really helps in opening up the eyes making them more tantalizing (LOL!)  I love mascaras and though I know one shouldn't open a lot of mascaras all at the same time because technically, they should only be kept for 6 months (max), I just couldn't stop myself from discovering what other brands has to offer when it comes to mascaras.  I've already found a number of good brands in the past (please check out my previous posts ),  but I'm still always in the lookout for really good mascaras because as I've said earlier, it's a staple in my kit. Today, I'd be sharing with you my experience with my first makeup stuff from Bourjois which happens to be another mascara…told you, I am such a sucker for mascaras! ^_^ Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Ma...

The holiday season is just around the corner.  Are you done with your Christmas shopping? If not, Bobbi Brown is here again to give you ideas of what to give your mom, your sister, your girl friends or that special woman in your life. With Bobbi's personally curated sets and palettes, you can be sure that you are indeed giving them the gift of glam this season. Bobbi Brown Holiday 2014 Gift Giving Holiday Deluxe Lip and Eye Palette (AED 435) Housed in a tortoise shell palette, this gorgeous palette offers an array of eyeshadows and creamy lip colors for standout looks that are gorgeous on all skin tones.  It includes a mini eyeshadow and lip brush for application on the go.  

For the longest time, I've been eyeing SK-II skincare. I mean, who wouldn't? If you know Cate Blanchett, you'd know why.   I know you'd probably say but she has good genes (so you mean I don't!?? Hahaha!) and that she's of Australian descent and she grew up in a place with a much better climate than where I grew up and yadah yadah yadah . Fine, but I've seen a lot of good reviews online about this skincare and some of them are also Asians living in a tropical climate. So please don't kill my hopes just yet.   And just when I was on the verge of giving in to buying myself a trial set, I got a chance to try their Pitera Essence Set courtesy of our friends at Luxola  (thanks so much!): My love package from Luxola SK-II Pitera Essence Set Red Flower Limited Edition The box contains: Facial Treatment Essence, 75ml Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, 30ml Facial Treatment Mask, 1 piece

Ask, and you shall receive. I've always been a believer of that so here I am with my Christmas wishlist, just in case the universe is feeling a lot more generous to me this year.  ^_^ 1.  An office bag. A Michael Kors Selma to be specific. Can be either black or taupe. I am not really into bags but I realized I need to invest in a good office bag because it's something I'd be using everyday anyway. Why an MK? Because it's less expensive than an LV (see, this is me being reasonable hahaha). 2. Makeup. I know, I already have a lot but a girl can't have too much makeup, right? I've been eyeing the Lorac Pro palettes for quite sometime now and when the Mega Pro came out, I just know I'd be saving a few bucks by getting it instead of the two palettes separately. Oh wow, I am really being smart. Hahahaha!   I dont't have much blushes in my kit since I've given most of them away before I left PH. After seeing the NARS Virtual Domination...

If there's one part of my face that I can say I am proud of when made up, that would be the eyebrows.  I takes me 15 minutes working on it each time so it better look good after right?  I knooww, it takes a long while but what can I do. I don't have much brow hairs to begin with so I really need to draw, fill it in and add some final touches to it so it'll look well, normal. (laughs)   My HG eyebrow product is still the Eye Love View eyebrow duo from Happyskin , followed by the Clarins Perfect Eyes and Brows palette. But on days when I'm feeling lazy to go through all the fuss to come up with the perfect brows, I rely on this eyebrow product called Brow Fantasy from Revlon.     Revlon Brow Fantasy Your best brows made beautifully simple. The pencil defines and fills in with soft, blendable, natural color. Our sheer tinted gel styles, shades, and sets. Brows have never looked better.   As per the Revlon website, it comes ...

I am not really into lippies, but if there's one brand that will never fail to make me hold my breath whenever they come up with new shades, it has got to be Happy Skin .  To date, their Shut Up & Kiss Me lippies (most especially The Morning After) are still among my favorites.  They apply like a dream, have an amazing pigmentation and never dries up my lips.    I've posted swatches of the first Happy Skin lippies I got my hands on months ago (check it out here ) and today, I'd be showing you their new shades available. Actually, they aren't really new because they have been out for months already. I knowww, I am so darn late. ^_^          Honeymoon Glow - Just Say Yes - Playing Footsie  

I've always been intrigued with the brand N°7 ever since I first saw it at Boots during my first trip in Dubai some 2 years ago.  I'm amazed that aside from their wide selection of makeup, they also have skincare.  I must admit that I hesitated checking them out until I got a chance to attend a launch event of their newest serums and I realized, the brand is indeed in a quest for excellence when it comes to anti-aging skincare. The Journey It started in 2007 when they launched the  N°7  Protect & Perfect Serum and at the time when serums are still quite unknown. A clinical trial was made and presented into the public.  The research showed that the product helped in increasing fibrillin, a glycoprotein which is essential for the formation of elastic fibers found in our skin.  The same effect can be achieved by using tretinoin, but we all know that it's a prescription-only treatment and when used excessively, it may do more harm th...

One fact about me: I love to eat .  And that I can also be adventurous when it comes to food. I love trying out new cuisines and no matter how weird a dish might look like, I'd still try it. What the heck, life is too short not to come out of your comfort zone when it comes to food.  So weeks ago, when I got an invite to try out Arabian cuisine at the grand opening of the Zayzafoon Restaurant and Lounge at Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in Baniyas, I didn't think twice of saying yes.  I did have an idea that the place is an hour bus ride from Abu Dhabi (thanks to Google) but that didn't stop me from going. Now, unlike me, my husband's not a fan of Arabic Cuisine (he is missing a lot, I know!) so I asked a good friend of mine to join me. Good thing she's up for it so after office, we took the bus and off we went to Baniyas. It was a long ride indeed, but it was all worth it.  We were warmly welcomed by the friendly staff and then immediately ushered ...

Last month, I featured the Autumn 2014 Makeup Collection from Clarins called Ladylike . And as promised, here's another post with swatches, plus my first impressions on some of the products sent to me from our friends from Clarins PR . (Thanks so much!) Some goodies from Clarins Ladylike Makeup Collection First up is the Perfect Eyes and Brows Palette: Perfect Eyes and Brows Palette (AED 210) On my previous post, I said that if there's one item in this collection that I would love to have, it would be this 'lil pretty.  So imagine my excitement when I saw it inside the goodie bag!  I cartwheeled 3x! LOL.   Its packaging, just like the other items I got, is so luxurious. It's housed in a gold metal compact with everything you'd need to create that perfect set of brows: a mirror, three brow powders, a brow wax, a highlighter, a mini pair of tweezers, a mini-spoolie and a dual-ended applicator. I've had brow compacts in the pa...

Do you want to learn some basic makeup skills in just minutes?  Then check out the MAC Instant Artistry event: the quickest, easiest and most interactive way to learn makeup skill from the pros. November 12 - 15 Star Atrium in Dubai Mall I got an invite to check it out on the first day and since I have a one-week off before I start with a new job, I happily braved the almost half an hour metro ride going to Dubai Mall. I learned that this is the first time for such event to be held here in the UAE.  So yes, I do consider myself lucky to be one of the firsts to experience it.  The setup: 'twas also my first time to attend such event (I think the first MAC Instant Artistry in Manila was held just this year too!) so I was quite surprised to see the setup: almost everything was in white, instead of the usual black which is the sort-of branding color of the brand. 

And finally, I got my hands on this Anastasia Amrezy Eyeshadow Palette! I know I have tons of eyeshadows enough to last me a lifetime but when I saw photos of this online, I just knew I had to have one because…I am a makeup junkie like that! Hahaha!    Anastasia Amrezy Eyeshadow Palette (USD 29) Actually, it's been a while since I last bought an eyeshadow palette and what really made me buy this one is the colours in it.  I've been so into earth-tones lately but I still try to add a pop of colour just so my peepers won't look too boring (or normal, hahah!) And this palette has all that: perfect shades great for an everyday makeup look plus two of my most favourite colours, purple and green!  Isn't this a beauty? 

Last two weeks ago, I got an invite to check out La Martina's latest collection at the Harper's Bazaar World of Fashion at the Mall of the Emirates.  I honestly had to think twice if I would attend because, isn't it obvious, fashion is not my thing! I mean, I wish I can be fashionable…I tried, and I still keep on trying but I guess, it's just not one of my few talents. Hahaha! But then I realized that maybe, I can get to learn a thing or two if I would start attending such events.  So I said yes and I'm so glad I did, because I got to see all the action from the front row!  La Martina is a sports and leisure clothing brand from Argentina and a known icon of the royal sport, horse polo.  It's also an official supplier of jerseys and equipments for most world polo tournaments. Through the years, it also became a go-to brand when it comes  to fashion in and out of the polo field.  Looking at what the models strutted on the catwalk,...

My absolute skin saver:   Laroche-Posay Effaclar Duo and Effaclar AI I first got to know about these French skincare products from Digitaltraincase when I was still in Manila.  That time, my skin was fairly normal and I was on the look out for maintenance products that will make my skin stay as such.  I got the Effaclar toner, Effaclar Duo, Effaclar K and Effaclar A.  I've finished a bottle of the toner (and loved it) but as for the rest of the products, they had to take a back seat because I didn't really find the need for them at that time.  My main issue has always been the scars left by nasty breakouts, so I jumped in to another set of skincare products that focuses on that. When I got here in the UAE, my skin took months to adjust. So again, break out galore. Probably because of the water? Maybe.  Then when the cold season kicked in, it just totally went haywire. And guess what, I also started getting back acne.  When it rains, it re...

'sup my loves!? It's midweek (at least in this part of our world) and I'm sure like me,  you can't wait until it's again the weekend. What are your plans?   For me, I'm expecting this weekend to be busier than my usual eat-sleep-watch tv, because there's a few errands hubby and I need to do, a kids' party and a crash course training for my new job. Oh yeah,  I am moving to a new job. I'd tell you about it later but for now, I can tell you that I'm scared. Scared because it's gonna be something new for me and it was decision I've thought long and hard.  Geesh,  I still have second thoughts about it to be honest but I already made a decision.  I just hope and pray that this change will be worth it and that this is  indeed something that I need to do for now.  SIGH.   Hay Lord, ikaw na po bahala. Anyways, another month is ending it's again time for unboxing a beauty box from Glambox Middle East!  Unlike last month's box, thi...

For autumn, the essentials are matte, tones of nude, beige and auburn.  I know some may see neutrals as boring (like I used to!) but with Clarins Autumn 2014 collection called Ladylike, it's all about elegance, natural beauty and femininity.  via Let's try to get to know each product in the collection: Perfect Eyes and Brows Palette (AED 210) If there's one item I'd like to get my hands on from this collection, it will be this!  It has 3 powder shades that you can also use as eyeshadows for a simple, neutral look, a nude pink shade eyeshadow that can be used on the inner corners of the eyes or just below the browbone to highlight and a transparent wax to keep those unruly brow hairs primped all day.  You also get a tweezer, a spoolie and an eyeshadow applicator.   Eye Quartet Mineral Palette (AED 230) This palette includes shade of soft beige, intense dark brown and two taupes. It can be used wet or dry and since they a...

I love seafood. Good thing I am not allergic to it like some people or else, I'd be miserable. Oh alright, I'm exaggerating.  But really, I just can't imagine my life without my favourite sweet chilli or steamed crabs and shrimps!  I know that some people don't really like seafood because it can be messy to eat them, but I don't mind at all.  C'mon, what's not fun with eating with your hands?   ^_^ So when I got an invite to check out Chimes' Crab Festival, the seafood lover in me just couldn't say No.   Chimes is a small restaurant located in Barsha (Dubai) which offers an extensive menu of specialties from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.  The interiors are  simple and they have an open kitchen so you can see their chefs working on their magic while you wait for your food.  They only have 5-6 tables in the restaurant and I heard the place can be jam-packed during weekends so make sure to make a reserv...

I am no newbie when it comes to products from LUSH having tried a number of their products in the past years, but this is the first time I decided to give their masks a try.  I am not really a fan of facial masks most especially those that you need to apply all over your face as I usually get too lazy to wash them off after. (I am such a lazy ass, LOL!) I looked around their shop at Al Wahda Mall (which is my new Megamall by the way), and saw that they have a lot of facial masks available.  I got confused at first on what to get, but decided to pick up the Mask of Magnaminty because I think it's the mask that is best suited for my skin.   LUSH Mask of Magnaminty (AED 100 / 315g) A mask with a mixture of gentle yet effective ingredients to clean, calm and clear the skin. It has peppermint oil to cool and invigorate the skin, marigold oil and chlorophyllin to treat breakouts, and evening primrose and ground aduki beans to exfoliate.  It also has hone...

I am not a fan of my flat, limp hair but one thing I like about it is that it doesn't suffer from probably one of the most common hair problems...dandruff. Maybe it's because like my face, my scalp is oily and dandruff usually affects those with drier scalp.   Unfortunately, my husband suffers from it and for years he has been switching from one brand of dandruff shampoo to another. He has tried a lot, even the expensive ones like Kerastase which to our dismay, even made his dandruff worse.  He eventually settled for Head & Shoulders (Classic Clean variant) and though his dandruff problem still remains, it is by far what he likes the most among all those he has tried.   I actually feel guilty for not being able to help my husband with his scalp problem. I am a (beauty) blogger and migawd, I scour the net for stuff to try and review but didn't even really bother looking for products that will totally make his dandruff go away.  So one day when h...

Do you love watching videos in Youtube?  In Youtube, you can find almost everything!  I basically learned most of my makeup techniques from watching makeup tutorials. But though I love watching international beauty vloggers showcase their talents in whipping up makeup looks, I still prefer to watch fellow Pinays.  Oh yeah, I love my kabayans!  Tee-hee! It's also basically because I more or less have the same skin tone and/or skin type as them which makes it  a lot easier, to put it simply, copy their makeup look.  For those who aren't much into makeup and are more (or also) interested in learning how to style your hair on your own, you can check out the All Things Hair Philippines Youtube channel.  The first in Asia, All Things Hair is a collaboration between Google, global hair brands - Dove, Cream Silk, TRESemme, Toni & Guy, Sunsilk and Clear, and Philippines vloggers like Kelly Misa, Laureen Uy, Nicole Andersson, James a...

Ohhh, somebody has gone MIA again…would you happen to know who that lazy ass is? ^_^ It's been a week already since the last quarter of the year has started, but please let me still share with you what I got for last month's Glambox. I actually got it pretty late, 'twas on the last day of September and so I first thought I won't be able to get a box,  but I did.  Thanks Glambox! I heard that they have started customizing the box according to the subscriber's profile so don't be surprised if your box would be different from others.  Better update your profile to make sure that you'd get items suited for you.  I just updated mine so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get items from my wish list in the following months.  Wink! Wink! So what did I get? Here they are: September 2014 Glambox  Sunsilk Refreshing Shampoo I know it isn't good, but I shampoo my hair everyday. I just can't stand it whenever...