REVIEW: Natasha Beauty Lip Palette - PRECIOUS LIPS

I am fond of things that are "ALL-IN-ONE" type or multipurpose. They save space, practical, worth the money, handy, and multifunctional. My mom knows this and this is what I got from her last Christmas---one of  Natasha Beauty's latest product, Lip Palette - Precious Lips. 

Let me give you the details why I  love this sooooooooo much!

 

List of Ingredients Found at the Back Portion of the Palette

Packaging and Contents

Natasha Beauty Lip Palette- Precious Lips is one of the two lip palettes launched on their December 2012 Catalogue. Natasha combined all their bestseller lip colors in 2 palettes--- Precious Lips and Tempting Pout.

Natasha Precious Lips and Tempting Pout Palettes for comparison

PROS: I prefer this palette compared to Tempting Pout, because I like to have a tangerine, red, fuschia, candy pink, peach, and light pink lip colors that suit my skin color. Just imagine buying all these lip colors individually that may cost Php150.00 and up depending on the brand. This is very impractical for moms like me who prioritize family expenses rather than personal wants and needs.

For Php 270.00 (paid by my mom of course), I am able to get six lip colors in one instead of one or two individual lip colors only. I also like its size. It's only 4" x 2.5"x 0.5" that makes it very sleek and small that can fit a cute purse even a small pocket. It weighs only 5.8 g that makes it very light. It has two small lip brushes that I use one for the lighter shade, and the other one for the dark shades. They are like professional lip brushes. They are not too soft nor hard. The tips are pointed that they can perfectly spread and line my lips with lip color. The packaging has no mirror but if I am in a well-lighted room, I can see my reflection on it's cover just like I am in front of the mirror. All shades are highly pigmented and true enough, they fit my fair skin. A small amount of lip color is enough to cover my entire lips. I can even mix and match the colors to create a new color. They also stay longer on my lips and I don't have to retouch often. It has the right shine that gives glow to my lips. They are non-greasy too.

This is the swatch that I applied on my arm. This photo was taken without flash.

I applied all colors on my lips for better visualization.This photo was taken without flash.

 Lip colors in this palette may be used as substitutes to the following:

KISS ME-  Avon Flamenco Red; Mac Cremesheen Lipstick Brave Red; NYC Retro Red Liptick

CRYSTAL ROSE- Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick Full Fuschia

CORAL PASSION-Mac Morange; Revlon Tutti Frutti

PINK DIAMOND- Rimmel Sugar Plum; Revlon Stormy Pink; Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick Show Orchid; WetNWild 505A

CANDY LUSH- Mac Cremesheen Lipstick Creme Cup; Revlon Wink for Pink

MELLOW PINK-   Any peach or very light pink tinted lip balm

CONS: For those who have very dry lips like me, putting lip balm 30 minutes before applying any of these lip colors is a must to maintain the lips' moisture much longer. The lip colors tend to dry fast on my lips or become matte finish if I don't do this. Why 30 minutes before? It is due to  clumping of the lip color when you immediately put it on right after applying lip balm. The lips should be able to absorb the lip balm first to avoid this. The lip color may serve as the sealant to lock in moisture.

Pros outweigh the cons! This is highly recommended especially to those women who want to try wearing different lip colors while on a budget. This is another proof that buying cheaper and affordable brands doesn't mean getting less quality.

I am wearing PINK DIAMOND!

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Healthier Way to Fry Chicken

It is very unhealthy to eat fried food everyday but kids nowadays find it irresistible--- French fries, burgers, and of course, who can say no to fried chicken?  My eldest son is not an exception. 

To make it less oily, my Mom was able to think of means to fry it a healthier way.

 This is how to do it!

1. In a skillet, non-stick frying pan, or any thick frying pan, put chicken, preferably thigh, leg, and wings, seasoned with salt and pepper.

2. Add water (1cup: 1/2 kilo chicken). Cover the pan and boil the chicken in LOW FLAME only.

3. When the water already evaporates, oil from chicken's meat and skin aids in frying. NO NEED TO ADD OIL.

4. Don't remove the pan's cover until both sides of the chicken are cooked. Always remember to check it from time to time. 

See that oil from chicken's meat and skin aids in frying when you do STEP 2. Furthermore, huge amounts of oil could be extracted as cooking continues.

4. Fry until golden brown.

5. Serve hot with steamed rice and your favorite side dish and sauce. 

Voila! The meat is thoroughly cooked inside and out.The skin is crispy while the meat is so tender and juicy.

Do you know that half cup of oil or more could be extracted from the chicken when you do this cooking method? That means lesser oil, lesser cholesterol, and lesser chances of getting sick and having heart problems.

Now you 're confident that your family is eating a healthier fried chicken.

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Easy Kare-Kare Recipe Using Mama Sita's Kare-Kare Peanut Sauce Mix

Kare-Kare is one of my favorite Pinoy dishes.

I refused to cook this before because it was so tasking, not until I found the best Kare-Kare mix--- Mama Sita's. 

It makes cooking Kare-Kare hassle-free. It makes my Kare-Kare taste and look very authentic like the ones that are cooked in traditional way. It doesn't make the sauce orangy too.

I would like to share my recipe with you:

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo pork, precooked (boiled and fried until well-done)
2  cups or more pork broth, number of cups depending on your desired consistency

4 gloves garlic, minced

1 big onion, minced 

1 cup peanut butter, number of cups depending on your desired taste and consistency

1 packet Mama Sita's Kare-Kare Peanut Sauce Mix, diluted in 1/2 cup water 

pepper and salt to taste 
1 sachet Maggi Magic Sarap or Knorr All-In-One Meaty Seasoning (OPTIONAL)

Vegetables- precooked by STEAMING

6-10 strips of string beans, cut into 2-3 inch pieces 

1 small banana blossoms, cut into chunks

4 pcs. eggplants, cut into small wedges

10-15 pcs. pechay

 

Sauteed shrimp paste, to be served with Kare-Kare (I prefer Barrio Fiesta Sauteed Shrimp Paste- REGULAR)

Note: You may use beef instead of pork. Our family prefers fried pork, not boiled, incorporated in Kare-Kare sauce. I use home-style peanut butter. My kids like my Kare-Kare on a sweet side. You may use the chunky variant if you don't want it to be sweet. It may also add crunch to the dish. I mince garlic and onion so that my kids can eat them without noticing. When I chop them into bigger pieces, they tend to remove them.

 
Procedure:

Fry boiled pork on its own oil until golden brown. Set aside. Saute onion. When it sweats already, add garlic. Since garlic cooks very quickly, add the fried pork immediately then saute a little. Pour the dissolved Mama Sita's Kare-Kare Peanut Sauce Mix and broth . Simmer for 2 minutes. Then add peanut butter by stirring continuously under low fire. You may add 1 sachet Maggi Magic Sarap or Knorr All-In-One Meaty Seasoning (OPTIONAL) instead of salt and pepper to taste.  When the sauce thickens, it's ready to serve with steamed vegetables  sauteed shrimp paste, and steamed rice.

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REVIEW: Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Booster Powder- Translucent

Whenever I travel, I can't go without my make-up kit. It's huge because I tend to bring lots of cosmetics---powder, blush, eyeshadow, lipstick, lip balm, brushes, concealer, mascara, brow liner, eye liner etc. It consumes a big space in my bag! Good thing that I discovered a perfect all-in-one powder!

I love browsing on sites of different cosmetic brands when I came across Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Powder-Translucent at Physicians Formula's website. I got more curious about this powder because of its nice appearance and details:

Courtesy: well.ca

Description

Ultra-smooth, perfecting powder in a complementary palette of color blends together to even out skin tone with a flawless radiance.
Vibrant pink heart gives cheeks a healthy pop of color.
Infused with our Happy Boost Blend, featuring Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress.
The sweet scent of Violet provides a feeling of joy each time you apply

Ingredients

Talc. Zea Mays (Corn) Starch. Dimethicone. Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate. Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate. Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter. Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil. Lecithin. Phytosteryl Canolate. Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil. Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract. Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract. Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter. Schinus Terebinthifolius Seed Extract. Palm Alcohol. Phenoxyethanol. Potassium Sorbate. Fragrance. May Contain: Carmine. Iron Oxides. Manganese Violet. Mica. Red 6. Red 7 Lake. Red 28 Lake. Red 30 Lake. Titanium Dioxide. Ultramarines. Yellow 5 Lake.

Claims

Hypoallergenic. Paraben free. Dermatologist approved. Non-Comedogenic.

Directions

May be worn alone or over makeup. Blend all shades together and brush on powder evenly over face and neck to even out skin tone with a happy glow. For an extra pop of color, sweep brush over the pink heart and apply on cheeks. For best results on dry to very dry skin, apply moisturizer prior to using powder.

 

I immediately contacted my favorite cosmetic online seller, Sweet and Sparkle. She is selling Physicians Formula products directly from USA. 

How I used this product for the first time:

1. After my skin regimen, I did not put liquid foundation nor concealer first to test its coverage. 

 

2. I chose TRANSLUCENT shade which suited my skin color.

 

* It has six shades which can be blended together or used separately. 

 *The brush functions as powder, blush, contour, eyeshadow brushes in one. No need to use separate brushes.

It has six shades that you can use in different ways!

* Pink and Peach Hearts

 I used these two shades for the apples of my cheeks and lips. I put lip balm first and patted these shades on my lips.

 

*Tan Heart

I used this as a base for the eyes. 

 
*Mocha Heart

I used this as an eyeshadow near the lashes.

 

   *Dark Brown Heart

 I used this for contouring.

 
*Light brown Heart- 

I used this as a highlighter.

* I swirled the brush and mix these hearts altogether- base (face powder)

 

  In My Opinion...

 

Pros: This powder is very versatile. I don't have to bring too much make-up when I go out because it functions as a face powder, blush, eyeshadow, contour, highlighter, and lip color. The soft brush also functions in different ways and it picks up just the right amount of powder. I don't have to bring separate brushes. It has a built in mirror too that makes it very, very handy and multifunctional. It gives me the right glow when I wear it. It smells good too. It definitely gives me a happy mood because I feel fresh, clean, glowing and radiant whenever I wear this. My skin looks healthy even without using liquid foundation nor tinted moisturizer when I put this on. It stays longer on my skin and I don't have to retouch often.

It has a very nice packaging with built-in mirror and brush.

What I love about this brush is that it is multifunctional, soft, and picks just right amount of powder.

Cons: The packaging is nice and functional but it is fragile and sensitive to shock that makes the powder crack when I put it on a non-padded pouch or when it bumps another item in my bag. But still, the powder doesn't go to waste. Too much care is needed to maintain its integrity. It may cover several dark spots but not the dark eye circles that much. I have to put concealer first.

Back view

It cracked after first use but it didn't matter at all. The powder didn't go to waste :)

FIRST USAGE: Without Concealer

With Concealer

With Concealer and Liquid Foundation

This is my favorite powder and I will definitely purchase this again! It is highly recommended. It costs Php 580.00 at Sweet and Sparkle but I must say it is still a best buy because of its versatility. 

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Tips on How to Make Laundry Smell Fresh & Clean Rain or Shine!

I know that it is a dilemma when we wash our clothes especially during rainy season when we can't hang our clothes outside for sun drying or when we have a small laundry area or space for air drying that they smell really horrible, "amoy kulob at lumlom, hindi natuyo sa araw", as if they are not dried properly.

 I tried a lot of ways on how to avoid this. After months of figuring out what's the best solution, I am so glad I found  two ways on how to avoid this problem.

First, I found out that the previous laundry detergent that I use didn't fit our body chemistry. I started trying different brands of laundry detergents. When I washed our clothes, my sons' and mine would smell good after drying while my husband's wouldl smell awful. Then I tried another brand, ours became stinky while my husband's smelled good instead. I even used different fabric conditioner brands but it made the problem even worse. After the episodes of  trial and error, I found a brand that suited all our body chemistry and that was TIDE with FRESHNESS OF DOWNY. All our clothes smelled good and our white clothes became whiter. Hard to remove stains could be easily removed. The fabric conditioner (Downy) component made our clothes softer and I did not have piles of clothes to iron then.

I buy this pack to avoid the hassle of measuring. It is also economical for budget conscious like me.

Second,  I discovered a cheaper and effective way on how to make our clothes even smell good. I used one capful of ZONROX COLOR SAFE BLEACH in rising our clothes.  It  was intented for colored clothes but this also helped in mantaining the whiteness of white clothes. This would also reinforce the cleaning action of TIDE with FRESHNESS OF DOWNY. 

I usually buy the biggest bottle because I use this often. Rinsing will not be complete without this. 

Aside from washing and rinsing clothes, I use this as a multipurpose household cleaner! You can even use this as is or without soap.

By the way, these are the detailed steps on how I wash our clothes:

1. I rinse all our dirty clothes with water first. After spinning, I soap them immediately.

2. I put 1 35 gram sachet of TIDE with FRESHNESS OF DOWNY  and 3 capfuls of ZONROX COLOR SAFE BLEACH in our 4.5 kg capacity washing machine with water. I use this solution for three wash loads instead of one only. The cleaning capacity of these two products are incredible both in colored and white clothes!

3. I soap each wash load for 15 minutes. 

4. I place each wash load in a spinner to remove the excess water/solution.

5. After soaping the three wash loads,  I rinse them one at a time in water with one capful of  ZONROX COLOR SAFE BLEACH. Rinsing our clothes ONCE is enough using this solution. 

6. I spin and hang clothes immediately for drying.

After following this regimen in washing our clothes, I didn't have any problem anymore in keeping them smelling clean and  fresh rain or shine!

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