The Foodinista

Marj Sia's Make Up Workshop: 2016

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

I was blessed enough to be a part of Marj Sia's Make Up Workshop :)
I have assisted Ms. Marj on her beauty workshop last September 25, 2015 and I really had a fun time. It has always been my hobby to follow beauty bloggers in PH to check out their reviews on beauty products being sold in stores in the Philippines; And of course inspire myself in creating my own content.

It was around the age of 18 when I started following online beauty blogs and one of them is Marj Sia of The Travelling Heels. I can very much relate to her because she's also Filipino-Chinese. There are still very few bloggers that time and she's one of those who have really emerged in the industry. I love her because her reviews are very honest and updated. :)

I feel blessed to be able to talk to her once in a while.

Ms. Marj invited me to attend her workshop once for free and I am thankful for her kind heart. I was privileged enough to be able to assist on her workshops as well.

The workshop was held here in the Backyard Coffee at Metro Point Centre here in San Juan, Manila. The ambiance is very peaceful, quiet, a little artsy and cozy.

Backyard Coffee

They even have an art decoration like this. Too Fancy!

The place is good for students, a perfect place to study since it's quiet too.

They sell pastries, cakes and sweets too.

We ordered their Salpicao Silog for P240 which is super delicious and Spicy Pasta Gamberette for P230. Their meals are affordable yet high quality. A good place to meet with friend and have a meryenda.

Salpicao Silog

We ate before proceeding with the workshop to have enough energy for the whole day!

I forgot to mention that their drinks tastes good too! I recommend you to order their White Rabbit for P160 make sure it's over ice!

Enough with the food! Let's proceed with what happened during the workshop. Before the workshop started, we arrived around 2-3 hours before the event so that we could eat first and then prepare the loot bags. We have also prepared guidelines in the area to make sure that everything will be in order.

We prepared the items which comes in the loot bags which the ladies will get all for free as part of their package! So worth it right? :)

This workshop has been sponsored by Etude House, Catwalk Cosmetics and INNOvitelle Incorporated. Thanks to the sponsors for these wonderful gifts!

Asian Secret

It includes a body scrub from Asian Secrets and even trial sized products from Etude House.

Etude Gift Bags

Who would not be happy to get these babies from Etude!

Asian Secrets

Etude House, browhause Salon, Colgate, Airoptix Colors

Here, Marj explains the importance of the pre-make-up process which is to cleanse, moisturize to prep the skin prior to applying make-up. The works shoppers were around 30 pax in different ages. From Moms to teenagers and even their kids came with them :)

The workshop is just basic and you do not even have to be a pro to attend this. You also do not have to bring fancy make-up brushes or palettes eye because everything will be provided for you.

Mark Sia Make Up Workshop

What's good about this workshop is you can personally ask your make up concerns and this is very helpful for starters like me who don't have or too little information on make up.

I was privileged enough to be part of this workshop. I really learned a lot from preps to post make up and removal. I wish I could discuss it here in detail but I would recommend you tune in with her next coming workshops and attend them yourself to experience it the thrill of learning everything you need to know about make-up!

Listening to the discussion

The discussion took around half a day which is okay for me. Sulit young buong day because there are free food and drinks naman so I guarantee that you won't even be hungry!

Ladies were feeling very pretty and more knowledgeable now! Hihihi! Yey!

I was so happy to see the ladies check their make-up look in the mirror. It seems that this workshop also boosted their confidence.

Of course, who wouldn't forget to take pretty photos for Instagram!

Loot Bags

Asian Secret Products

Freebies from the previous workshop I attended with Marj

That's it! I hope I have convinced you to attend her workshop: You'll really enjoy it and get to keep a lot of freebies! I wish I could be part of her next workshop again :)

Accessories

Love. Hope. Faith.: Time to Save a Life

Friday, January 22, 2016

When I attended Trendsetter's Bazaar last December 2015 during their Pre-Holiday Sale, I stumbled upon Love Faith Hope Group. They were selling watches and colorful T-shirts in their booth which really caught my attention cause of their core foundation which is in helping save lives. I made this post specifically for them because I think in this little way I can help spread their goodness and their shared mission to help people.

LoveHopeFaith Group or LHFG is an all Filipino social enterprise which was founded to provide care and assistance to cancer patients. They aim to give joy and hope through a cause-oriented enterprise by providing affordable products to consumers and giving back to the community. They want to be an inspiration and to serve as a channel to empower cancer patients and communities. 50% of their net proceeds goes to donate according to their website.

What do they sell?

Life Saver Shirt

They sell shirts with a tagline TIME TO SAVE A LIFE which really rings a bell for me and would easily caught others attention. They come in black and white and in different sizes for P250 each.

Sweets for a Good Cause

These chocolates packaging was awesome. They look like Royce's Chocolates packaging which is classy, decent and elegant; it makes the perfect gift to your loved ones.

Life Saver

Rubber watch for an affordable price!
They come in big and small size. The watch are priced at P200 each, big or small. Available colors are Red, Blue, Light Blue, Green, White, Turquoise, Purple, Black, Gray, Light Pink, Brown, Pink, Navy Blue and Yellow.

I bought the white one cause it's basic, petitre and can easily be partnered with any clothing!

Father and become your disciple. Bind us to become a family that lives with love, hope and faith. As we hand in hand with our neighbors. Let us not choose who to care, but love all within our reach. This is our prayer. In your mighty name, Amen.

I am deeply moved by the words that they include on their packaging. I appreciate that they just do not do this for charity but also practice giving a part of their lives to helpless people. What a great purpose they serve for.

50% of the net proceedl be donated to a cancer patient of medication and various beneficiaries of Lovehopefaith. For Fashion, Style and Charitable Cause: This watch will save lives.

This is how the watch looks like in close up. It's really clean and classy. Looks like it's made of rubber but does not irritate the skin at all. It is perfect to use anywhere and can be paired with any type of clothing. I prefer to use this on during gym sessions or hiking & outdoor events as it is very light and seamless.

What's also great about this product is it comes with a warranty card. If anything happens within one month from the date of purchase you can still have it repaired!

LHF make all things beautiful. Hope makes everything work. Faith makes all things possible.

When worn look. Chic and classy! Very minimalist.

I forgot to add that they also come with free extra battery. They are so generous! For P200 you even have get to have an extra battery. If you are looking for a perfect give for holidays and special occasions consider buying this. You'll be able to help cancer patients on their financial needs.

By the way, they conduct bazaars across Metro Manila so expect to see them around. You can also follow their social media websites for more updates!

How to Order:

Send an SMS Using the form ff

1 Name:

2. Order: Size, Color and Qty.

3. Shipping Address

4. Send to 09178884516 or 09228740334

Beauty

Make Up Haul: My Current Make Up Collection + Freebies (2015 - Early 2016)

Thursday, January 07, 2016

Hello Ladies! I am posting my current make-up collection. I have always been obsessed with make up. I love watching make up tutorial videos on youtube and I window shop a lot. However, my collection is not that extensive because I have other priorities to save up on such as my photography and videography gears but from time to time I would buy cosmetic items that I feel I needed to have for special events.

Most of my make up are in the affordable category and the basic ones. It's part of my 2016 goals to increase my make up and skin care collection. I do not use make up on a daily basis though. I just cleanse my face after taking a shower, put moisturizer and sun block on and I am good to go. I can survive a day without having to wear any make up.

My motivation to wear make-up is actually to look a little put together and grown up. I am 22 now, but I still look like 15-16 yrs old because of my baby face and chubby cheeks. I am not saying it's a bad thing though but when I attend parties or gathering meetings with high profile clients, I want to look classy, matured and a little more decent. I do not want them to feel that they're just talking to a college student or a trainee. (Haha!) People judge based on appearance (first) before they really get to know you. First impressions last!

My favorite part of any make up look is actually the lashes. I love falsies and I love lash extensions. I feeel like lashes define your eyes and will make you look feirce. It's also convenient not to put any eyeliner anymore if you have lashes on. I recommend Faboulash for your lash needs, it's an online shop which sells false eyelashes with a wide variety of selection - length and thickness.

I love their lashes because it looks very natural and the hair strands are soft and comfortable to wear. I usually buy those cheap lashes in department stores before which costs around P60 to P80 per set. This one is priced around P90 up per pair which is reasonable for the quality already. I also love this because the glue is easy to remove and the lashes can be re-used around 2 to 3 more times.

I ordered this specific lashes which are the following: WSP 213 and 747s. WSP set is for partying as it tend to have a very long and bold look while the two are just soft and can be used for dinner dates and casual events. Good thing they also ship worldwide! These babies are hand-made, light weight and fabulous!

Bifesta

Bifesta Make Up Remover
Got this babies for free when I attended Marj Sia's Makeup Workshop last year. They actually come in a pump bottle which cost around P600 to P800 in drug stores. I still have to buy 1 bottle because they are really good. I have tried one pack of this and I must say it easily removes my make up well and smells good too. One thing I hate about the make up is removing it and looking for a good make up remover which does not sting is hard. I recommend this brand cause it's very light and leaves a refreshing feel on my face after use. It smells like baby milk too!
* I'll give an in-depth review on this once I purchase the bottle pump version

Vitress

Vitress

My hair is my crowning glory! YES! I have very long hair which reaches' til my waist area and I love grooming it! I will not leave the house until I get my hair blow dried perfectly! Due to my annual hair coloring it was hard to prevent strands from drying out. So it became vital to me to apply hair polish once in a while just to help it strengthen and look healthy!

*Got this from Marj Sia's Make Up Workshop

As you can see, I have only have few make ups with me. I have thrown some of which have expired cause of not using them often. I use BB Cream Ponds foundation for my everyday foundie just so I could protect my facial skin from the harmful UV Rays aside from the normal sunblock. Then I apply blush from Maybelline - Cheeky Glow to add color to my pale skin. I rarely do my brows cause i'm happy with my threaded brows already but if I do, I use the In 2 It Brow Powder. This is a cheap buy but the product is actually good and stays long enough. It's even waterproof!

These are my primers and foundations. Have not even opened some of them cause I rarely use them. I currently am using the Porefessional from Etude House which I really love because it closes my pores and gives me an even surface when applying my foundation. I actually stopped looking for a primer when I found this! I have not bought my HG foundation yet cause I have not found THE ONE. I use the concealer SAEM which I got from Korea. Others are just extras make up that I have.

I use the Bobbi Brown Mascara on my lashes which I also got from Marj Sia's Make Up Workshop. They stay for a long time but they're very hard to remove. However, it feels light in the eyes so I actually plan to buy another bottle. The eyeshadows are from Japan, I have not bought my HG eyeshadow palette yet cause i'm still looking for a good one with a good pigment. These lightly pigmented eyeshadows are not really what I like cause it's so glittery but I guess the reason for this and why most Japanese are not pigmented eyeshadows is because they have little to no eyelids. I think this is not really necessary for them and just an "add-on" for their make-up routine.

For the Eye Liners, I got my favorite Mac Eyeliner which was given to me as a gift way back. I think it's expired already, but I still keep on using it, Haha. It has a great black pigment and I usually use this when clubbing as it gives me a fierce and bolder eye look that I want!

I forgot to mention, the make up remover that i'm currently obsessing with is the Real Art Cleansing Oil from Etude. A lot of beauty bloggers have been raving about this and what I have is just even a trial kit only. I will buy a big bottle of this cause it easily removes ALL the make up on my face including the mascara.

Blush

Next to Falsies, my next favorite would be the blushes! I love them so much I even wear them mostly without foundation. I remember wearing them since I was in grade three. A lot have been raving about cheek tints then, so when my mom bought me one, I never stopped using it anymore. Most of my schoolmates would ask what my secret to looking radiant and blooming, this is the secret, the bomb!

Make Up Brush
My current makeup brushes are from CHARM which is a local brand. I got these again from attending Marj Sia's make-up workshop. It's a small one perfect size for travel. I plan on buying Real Techniques Brushes soon this year to use as my HG brush and is still currently hunting for good affordable brushes.

Lipsticks
I love MATTE Lipsticks. I got some NYX Soft Creamy Matte lippies. Planning to buy MAC lippies soon. I am not much a fan of lipsticks cause they tend to get away easily. I feel that I am wasting my money buying lipsticks or probably I am just not buying good products that will make me like it. Still on a hunt for good lippies!

PERFUMES / Colognes
I love colognes better than perfumes. I love soft smelling fragrances than the strong ones. However, the only negative thing is that they tend to go off easily. This is my current favorite all over spray from Etude House, it smells sweet and tasty!

THERE! Thank you for taking the time to read this. I actually wrote this to keep track of the make-up that I have right now and to see the progress of my collection when I start hoarding good products on my wish list.
What do you think about this? Let me know and comment below!

2016 Planner

Starbucks Philippines 2016 Planner: White Edition

Tuesday, January 05, 2016

I'm no coffee-lover but I would grab a coffee from time to time when I feel like it. Coffee Frappes are my thing because they're cold and refreshing! They make me happy! One reason why I didn't get into coffee so much is because of its caffeine content and that affects my sleeping patterns badly so I try to avoid is as much as I can. Decaf is not always offered in coffee shops so that's another thing to consider. Starbucks is an exception for me though. Once in a while I would crave for Starbucks Frappes. IDK WHY! I JUST LOVE 'EM and I would still purchase their coffee even if their beverage are hella overpriced.

Anyhow, I am even more motivated to buy from Starbucks during the BER months because of their planner. I know people who buy their coffee only to get the planner. #truestory

I have OC (Obsessive Compulsive) tendencies and I am highly organized that's why a planner is a must have for me. My 2015 planner was also from Starbucks and I really love that one because it came with a fancy chalk pen and a brown-inked highlighter that has an addicting coffee scent!

To get this 2016 edition planner, you must purchase 9 Starbucks Core Beverage of your choice and 9 Holiday Featured Beverage (Toffee Nut Latte, Peppermint Mocha and Christmas Panetonne Latte). I have only tried the Toffee Nut Latte among the holiday featured beverage and it tastes like caramel coffee, pretty ok. I was tempted to try the Christmas Panetonne Latte but others said that it tastes like fruit-cake which isn't appetising to me and seems overly sweet so I didn't bother trying it out.

The promotion started on November 2, 2015 and will end on January 8, 2016.
Starbucks Philippines just recently announced that they will be giving 2 stickers per drink starting January 4, 2015. What a great deal if you want to catch up on collecting the stickers to avail the planner!

Note that if you plan on combining two Starbucks Christmas Tradition Cards and you have excess stickers on one of those, you may not use the left over stickers anymore.

The Starbucks Philippines 2016 Planner is available in four (4) colors. Green & White for the big ones and Red & Black for the small ones. I actually do not see the point of releasing the smaller versions because it's not 'sulit' but I guess this will come in handy for people who don't like carrying bulky items.

I chose the white one because it looks very minimal, clean and classy. The only negative aspect of getting this one is that it could easily get dirty. The texture of the cover is smooth and has a huge embossed Starbucks logo in front. The green page stopper / bookmark on the other hand, is a chic additional element to the piece.

Ya' know your planner's legit if you have a quality control receipt!

The monthly page layout looks like this. It is very minimal and clean, quite close to a plain canvas. Instead of using dark colored tones for the text and illustration they used light coloured ones and muted tones which gives out a simplistic and sophisticated vibe. I like how it's not cramped with tacky designs so it feels like you're writing on a clean slate whenever you're using the planner.

They have inserted coffee-inspired artworks & illustrations with modern typography on some pages which is very refreshing, youthful and pleasing to the eyes. They also had illustrations on their 2015 planner but they made it more subtle and minimal this time.

The weekly page of the planner is so exciting to use because they did allot a large space for taking notes. Thankfully, they didn't add unnecessary graphics and tacky designs because that would be so annoying. I am very meticulous when it comes to planner designs because the cheaper ones would usually look chaotic and really stressful to look at. The purpose of having a planner is the opposite thing. It should be a medium to de-stress and organize your life so having one that does not do its purpose is useless.

The book end of the planner has a cute side pocket envelope with a surprise Starbucks discount coupons. This will come in handy for small papers, receipts and tiny stationery knick-knacks that can be easily misplaced. It's seamlessly attached to the book end so it's unnoticeable yet convenient.