What I Bring to the Gym

Last year, I finally kicked off a healthier lifestyle and began eating better and going to the gym regularly. Curves, to be exact, since I've heard glowing reviews about the place from friends. Not only have I lost weight, but it's done wonders to improve my sleep, mood, and increased my overall energy levels.

I hit the gym 2-3 times a week, and over time I figured out what are the must-have essentials to bring along with me. Curious what they are? Read on and find out.

I've moved to Japan!

That's right, I've packed my bags (and most of my makeup) and moved to Tokyo! I'll be here for the next year, with my sister, studying Japanese. If we do well, we'll hopefully get to stay another 3-4 years to enter other specializing schools. My sister for fashion, and me for cosmetology! I'm already scouting out a few schools since I plan to apply in November already. Wish me luck on that!

And don't worry, I'll definitely still be blogging! I'll be busier with school work, but my blog will not be going anywhere. I've only been MIA for a bit because we're still settling in as we moved into our dorm just a couple of weeks ago. In fact, I'm already on the lookout for new lighting equipment to use for future blog pictures. I just bought an awesome, new camera too and I can't wait to start using it!

Thanks for sticking around thus far, guys! I'm excited to not only continue to write about beauty and review various products, especially local ones, but to share about my experiences here and the new chapter in my life I'm opening so stay tuned! x

Merry Christmas!

A very, Merry Christmas to all my readers and sponsors, and a big thank you for all the support you’ve given me and my blog this 2014! This coming 2015 will be a very exciting time for me, and I’ll reveal why in another post as soon as everything falls neatly into place. Promise!

For now, here’s to better and bigger things for all of us this coming new year! I hope you all have an amazing Christmas with your friends and loved ones, and I hope to continue seeing you on my blog for more years to come!

What’s In My Makeup Kit? Part II.

I consider myself a pretty practical person when it comes to what I tote around in my bag everyday. I tend to bring only the essentials: a foldable umbrella, my wallet, the occasional book and sunglasses, my phone, a small bottle of hand sanitizer and perfume, tissues, and a power bank. If I’m supposed to be at work that day, I also have to bring along my pencil case. Despite only bringing what I only need, my bag still sometimes ends up pretty heavy. That’s okay though. I’d much rather come home with a sore arm or shoulder than fret over something I left at home while I’m out.

Of course one other item that’s always in my bag, at least on most days when I’m not required to bring only a tiny clutch or similar, is my makeup kit. It may be silly, but I always feel a tad bit vulnerable if I don’t have it with me at all times, especially because I try to make sure my makeup looks the best it can at all times so retouching when needed is a must for me.

The last time I made a post like this, part one, was over two years ago so I felt an update was long overdue. Let’s take a peek now, shall we?

I change my makeup kit quite often, actually. But for the past couple of weeks I’ve been using this Benefit pouch that the girls at Benefit Philippines gave me. Isn’t it cute? The size is just perfect for me too because it doesn’t take up a lot of space in my bag and can fit everything I need inside. It’s also not ‘slouchy’ and has a defined shape, meaning any fragile items inside, like blush and lipstick, are more protected.

My Current Skin Care Routine

Image credit: emphasiseventsinc.com

Taking another quick break from reviews, and because of a number of requests from different people, I’ve decided to write about my current skin care routine and what products I use. I change up my routine every so often because I love trying out different products, especially if they’ll help with my acne-prone skin, so I plan to do an updated post on this some time in the future!

Why It's Okay To Wear Makeup

I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with a popular website called 9GAG, right? It's a great boredom buster of a site and I see some of the funniest or interesting posts on there that I love sharing with friends. But sometimes there are uploaded posts which really hit a nerve for me.

I think we should all respect everyone's opinion, no matter what it is, but there are times when an opinion seems to defy all logic and sense that you can't help but get worked up over it, know what I mean? Recently, certain posts and comments on 9GAG have really gotten to me and they're specifically about makeup. Even more specifically, how it's able to transform someone's appearance.

Image from 9gag.com

Take a look at the picture. I don't know about you, but what first comes to mind for me is "Wow! Amazing job!" Putting aside any possible Photoshopping, and taking into consideration elements like proper lighting, I can still say I love what they did to her, especially that absolutely perfect contouring job. The lipstick/lipgloss is such a flattering shade on her too and now I'm curious what brand it's from because I want it as well!

However, a lot of people on 9GAG don't express the same kind of reaction. In fact, they do just the opposite. Here are just some of the comments I've gathered from posts of a similar nature (1, 2, 3) that show before and after pictures of women with and without makeup:

• Make up should be illegal so I actually know who I'm marrying.
• That's why make up is bad.
• Birth rates would severely drop if the world were without makeup.
• False advertising!

What has the world come to when women are made to feel ashamed and are judged for simply wearing makeup?

I noticed a lot of these hateful comments are centered around makeup being used to deceive. As if it was this evil tool that a woman can use to make others do her bidding or turn things in her favor. You don't know everyone's story, therefore you can never immediately judge a woman based on how much makeup she uses and why she wears it in the first place. For whatever intention a woman wears makeup, why must we point fingers and accuse her of this or that? What if certain women are just so crippled with insecurity about how they look that they believe makeup is the only thing that can give them confidence about their physical self? To be honest, instead of judging, we should be concerned. As if the media doesn't cause enough emotional (insecurity) and physical (plastic surgery, extreme dieting, etc.) damage to women and young girls alike by dictating what is "supposed" to be considered "beautiful" these days.

I am now a beauty columnist!

Another small break from product reviews and whatnot to update you all on some exciting news... I am officially a columnist in the Fashion & Beauty section in a local newspaper, The Philippine Star!

This is a big deal for me not only because I get to talk about and share experiences with two of my passions, which is of course makeup and skin care, but because the newspaper is big, popular, and read all over the country so I can reach a very large audience every week!

My very first article came out just a couple of days ago actually and I covered the launch of Benefit's newest products at a private event last week.

I scanned and stitched it together it as best I could and uploaded it onto my Mediafire account here if you want to check it out and have a read yourself. I know some parts may be difficult to read since my scanner can't accommodate the whole page so there's an online version here too: http://www.philstar.com/fashion-and-beauty/2013/07/17/977441/beauty-knows-benefit

If you read the newspaper yourself and/or have access to it, I hope you'll check out my weekly column, 'Fifty Shades of Red', by yours truly!

PS. I'd love for you to contact me about what you think of my articles and for you to share your opinions on the featured topic as well. You can tweet me on Twitter, drop a comment on Instagram, or also comment on any post on my blog's new Facebook page. For international readers, I'll provide a link to an online version of my articles as soon as they're available on both Twitter and Facebook.

Review: Lancôme Hypnôse Star mascara and L'Absolu Rouge lipstick (190 Rouge Eternel) + my birthday!

Yes, it's official, I turned 25 yesterday. I had a great day, made extra special by all the sweet birthday greetings I've gotten. I received a small haul of presents too, all beauty products to boot, and I'm planning to do a full review on each one of them since they're all so lovely! In fact, here's the first one already...

One of my most favorite presents is definitely from a good family friend who gave me both the Hypnôse Star mascara and a L'Absolu Rouge lipstick from Lancôme!

The mascara was actually introduced last year with the classic Betty Boop character who became popular around the time the Lancôme brand started in the 1930's (you can read about it here), that's why it came with a super cute Betty Boop pouch which is currently my new makeup pouch already!

Just click below to find out my thoughts and the full review about both!

My Beauty Confessions

Like any other person, I have my fair share of secrets. Some I'd only reveal to very close friends, and others I'd never dare tell anyone. When it comes to beauty and makeup, you could say I have my own 'secrets' as well, which I actually do feel like sharing with my readers in the form of, of course, confessions. Consider this list sort of a beauty rant as well as I'll be detailing what bugs me when it comes to anything to do with beauty products and cosmetics.

Image from: pinuplifestyle.com

1. I still use expired makeup. Yes, I know that using any sort of makeup past their expiration date is bad, bad, bad. But I've been doing this for years and so far have not had any negative or worrying reactions! No extreme break outs, no rashes, no infections, nothing! Hold on though, I do have my limits. Any makeup that generally involves the (inner) eyes and lips, I do ditch when needed. That's a risk that's too big for me to take. The last thing I want is impaired vision because of expired eyeliner or mascara or itchy and blistering lips. However, all my makeup is for personal use, so there's no contact risk with other people, and I keep all my cosmetics sealed tight and clean my applicators (brushes and sponges) regularly. I read another blog post some time ago that if this was the case, your makeup actually lasts longer in terms of extending its expiration date. I still don't encourage anyone to do what I do though! If you feel more comfortable chucking away expired eye shadow, lipstick, and the like, then feel free to do so! I just, personally, find it a bit of a waste when say a particular blush still works really well and I suffer no side effects even if it's a few months past expiration. This is particularly true for my more high-end branded cosmetics. How can I bear to throw away a gorgeous Chanel eyeshadow quad when there's still so much more left to be used?

Rain, rain, go away...!

The weather here in the Philippines has just been both crazy and frightening and I can only hope my followers/readers are safe and sound, and that your homes, friends, and family aren't affected by the widespread floods either! Of course, let's also hope for the rescuing and care for those who were sadly affected by the torrential rains and that they get the care and supplies they're greatly in need of.

If you or anyone else ever need a reference for emergency hotlines and other services, check out Rowena's very detailed entry here on who to get in contact with and how!

Take care, everyone!!!

Dolcellita debuts!

The first entry to my blog.

After months of procrastination, I've decided to start up my beauty/lifestyle blog and hopefully start reviewing a variety of things, not just beauty products and the like. Why start a blog like this? For the same reason that a lot of other similar bloggers began their own; I simply like talking about my experiences with products and experiences in general.

I've had a number of blogs already in the past, all of them personal ones, and this will be my first public blog that I hope I can update as often as possible.

So with that, do you guys have any suggestions or ideas on what I should review? I've got a few ideas of my own already, but I'd still love to hear from you first. Any new products (hopefully I can start off with beauty products) I should try out or places I should check out in the general Manila area? Let me know via a comment! Or you can always shoot me an e-mail at dolcellita@gmail.com