Happy Memorial Day!

Hi everybody,<br /><br />Today is Memorial Day, a day to remember U.S military soldiers who died in service. For us, we get a day off to spend time with families and do all the wonderful activities together. Memorial Day also signifies the start of summer shopping. I went to the mall yesterday and it was very crowded.<br /><br /><b>Arts et. al.</b><br /><br />Recently, it dawned on me that I really could not shoot good pictures. The quality of the pictures at My Makeup Blog is not so wonderful and I really want to change that. My initial reaction is to blame my camera (Canon Powershot SD590 IS.) It's basically a dinosaur since coming to the market in 2007. Now, Canon probably already launched the Powershot SD-eleventy bazillion IS or something like that but the thing is, my camera still sells. It's a decent point and shoot for beginners and it does wonderful things to me and my blog. But God forbids, it's no D-SLR.<br /><br />According to a whole lot of people on the internet who actually know a lot about digital photography, you should not blame your cameras because <i>cameras don't shoot pictures. People shoot pictures</i>.<br /><br />Earth to Dao, duh!<br /><br />And then, I received this newsletter from Etsy discussing about pictures and one thing sank: my lightning sucks big time! Since I need to use flash, and my camera doesn't have the best flash in the world, my pictures ended up with over-saturated lights.<br /><br />But that's easy to fix: with proper lightning and auto white balance in the manual option, I got this picture:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLrKBhokFmurf-st-RaQnb_ttFRx85MsNTVK_F4YvBTVIAa6SxADTQ_c1JU4RjtMHLza0vxR21jNdqfDxhrqZMk0VxaLg_40JdAjJ_x-r-FuKg7hZS1YmKhcDRTLjBHj2w2QY52pHXOI/s1600/IMG_1615_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLrKBhokFmurf-st-RaQnb_ttFRx85MsNTVK_F4YvBTVIAa6SxADTQ_c1JU4RjtMHLza0vxR21jNdqfDxhrqZMk0VxaLg_40JdAjJ_x-r-FuKg7hZS1YmKhcDRTLjBHj2w2QY52pHXOI/s640/IMG_1615_1.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br />No flash, just a little bit of cropping and a tiny bit of color correction to make it look like that. Nice, right? The colors are so true in this picture. What you see is what you get.<br /><br />So, please don't blame your camera. Read the manual and play with lightning. And I know, I'm not an expert in this aspect. I have a lot to learn but just a small change makes such a huge difference.<br /><br />Please enjoy the rest of your day. I'm sure I will :)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Happy Memorial Day!

Hi everybody, Today is Memorial Day, a day to remember U.S military soldiers who died in service. For us, we get a day off to spend time wit...

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From Italy with Love FOTD

Hi everyone,<br /><br />How's your day going so far? A while ago, my friend <a href="http://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/">Gio</a> and I did another swap. This time around, I swap my <a href="http://etsy.com/shop/formulaDminerals">Formula D Minerals</a> for some of her Italian makeup. Gio sent me a Pupa baked blush (pure love!), I Provenzali shea butter lip balm, Essence makeup (it's a German brand but you can find at <a href="http://ulta.com/">Ulta.com</a>), and some samples.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMhbxn8IBfsx0Cvpkn34oHt9KVXpV7rhkKicDhwwjcVvcDZx4CuH62-zjRXxuSUYdWXD07p8tP-CYC5In3CyeElOtvpRoysKUDh44aMkaG7rZ30l7SO4a-zzZ42xtIlMO8FnQfls8_Pw/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMhbxn8IBfsx0Cvpkn34oHt9KVXpV7rhkKicDhwwjcVvcDZx4CuH62-zjRXxuSUYdWXD07p8tP-CYC5In3CyeElOtvpRoysKUDh44aMkaG7rZ30l7SO4a-zzZ42xtIlMO8FnQfls8_Pw/s400/IMG_1342.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the loot. Thanks, Gio!</td></tr></tbody></table>I thought it would be nice to use all the products she sent me so far (swap 1 is <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/gifts-from-italy-and-my-new-fringe.html">here</a>) and do a FOTD. Since she's from Italy, I named it "From Italy with Love".<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpmp0-t3nnB0Vqh4et-zkl0JgLDg5eBVRbLVOcm6kpu3vOLxrVwS4eD7ljg51Kj0C2ZYo-lT9aZad0n-Vy6TpDJBT9PtR_6bq9bQcCWsCVa77LLtamAYM6DXTRMSvbKTi235QEeT76Ws/s1600/IMG_1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpmp0-t3nnB0Vqh4et-zkl0JgLDg5eBVRbLVOcm6kpu3vOLxrVwS4eD7ljg51Kj0C2ZYo-lT9aZad0n-Vy6TpDJBT9PtR_6bq9bQcCWsCVa77LLtamAYM6DXTRMSvbKTi235QEeT76Ws/s400/IMG_1509.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Italy with Love, a colorful neutral look</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: auto;"><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38U8P5g3-n2qQN9K7M3DJDhZi_PNQlSLUXdNyf6mjt-t9sQj4yILwKbCJO5dkLFZcBNZgzMpgfZ1P1Yjod9bcaTV8FrGfRlPyFCqALywNWJzkYAGDion_5bJN2hSg_z3Few7aAMSl_Fk/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38U8P5g3-n2qQN9K7M3DJDhZi_PNQlSLUXdNyf6mjt-t9sQj4yILwKbCJO5dkLFZcBNZgzMpgfZ1P1Yjod9bcaTV8FrGfRlPyFCqALywNWJzkYAGDion_5bJN2hSg_z3Few7aAMSl_Fk/s400/IMG_1532.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />Products used:<br /><br />* Pupa Luminys baked eyeshadow duo 02<br />* Pupa Luminys velvety baked blush 04<br />* Pupa mineral silk 03<br />* Art Deco eyeshadow primer<br />* Deborah lipstick 800<br />* Essence long lasting eye pencil in Hot Chocolate<br />* Essence kajal pencil in Cool Breeze<br />* Rimmel London Max Volume Flash mascara<br />* Formula D Minerals <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45698965/the-ultimate-powder-vegan-face-powder">the Ultimate Powder</a><br />* Formula D Minerals foundation (coming soon!)<br />* Variety of brushes from ELF, EcoTools, and kabuki brush from Swirled Cosmetics<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHQ9KyvurBUajsP_8Ic9vxBXR8pNG2wBPoNx0z5jLfBE8-cGde32DeX6f4DL9dS4za7AfERcETw6Jsu0nVEH-IgDE6MN_64AmL99sFEQ94qgAENVTpp2wH6oqOgTWcOmjJbZskS2ufHQ/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHQ9KyvurBUajsP_8Ic9vxBXR8pNG2wBPoNx0z5jLfBE8-cGde32DeX6f4DL9dS4za7AfERcETw6Jsu0nVEH-IgDE6MN_64AmL99sFEQ94qgAENVTpp2wH6oqOgTWcOmjJbZskS2ufHQ/s400/IMG_1522.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Are you ready to rock and roll?</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Eyes</span></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2_NcDYrk1ZSNTu7qi8L8CS4MDrpXsZ7FujQlInutJ6TxgTFc-bM6CsCjnYPg1HBxJ0K6EgaDY1uZ_Erhz_oL_53QwEqvOQ98Gl6ROHUK_XVV75m4tJYv9zHT1MlL3FdOiDBm32B2mv0/s1600/IMG_1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2_NcDYrk1ZSNTu7qi8L8CS4MDrpXsZ7FujQlInutJ6TxgTFc-bM6CsCjnYPg1HBxJ0K6EgaDY1uZ_Erhz_oL_53QwEqvOQ98Gl6ROHUK_XVV75m4tJYv9zHT1MlL3FdOiDBm32B2mv0/s400/IMG_1531.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open eye</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><ul><li>Apply Art Deco eyeshadow primer all over the eyelid</li><li>With ELF eyeshadow brush, apply Pupa mineral silk eyeshadow 03 from the lash line to the crease</li><li>Using the crease brush from EcoTools eye brush set, pick up the green baked eyeshadow from Pupa baked eyeshadow duo 02. Apply it from the outer corner of your crease, leave the last 1/3 untouched. Make sure not to blend the brown and green together as it will get muggy</li><li>Pick up the highlight brush from EcoTools and apply the white eyeshadow from the same duo to the inner corner of your eyes and to highlight the brow bone</li><li>Apply Essence Hot Chocolate eyeliner to the lash line, slightly wing it out at the end</li><li>Apply Essence Cool Breeze kajal liner to the lower lash line for a funky twist</li><li>Curl your lashes and apply 2 coats of Rimmel London Max Volume Flash mascara</li></ul><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAYorzxrbGptaf_evkgK3kNJZZvoWowqIozQpqXYC3IDvBtxI0k6EuMgGTyZAc3FMHRY_i06taCNzqatGBLJs_QGC79lJJyvI7IVNYkygtEoPKkj6RYKdRRdd4xIbcxMKp5XFUNSauK8/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAYorzxrbGptaf_evkgK3kNJZZvoWowqIozQpqXYC3IDvBtxI0k6EuMgGTyZAc3FMHRY_i06taCNzqatGBLJs_QGC79lJJyvI7IVNYkygtEoPKkj6RYKdRRdd4xIbcxMKp5XFUNSauK8/s400/IMG_1529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close look at my semi-close eye</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Face</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Apply The Ultimate Powder as a primer to your face, using Swirled Kabuki brush</li><li style="text-align: left;">Using the same brush, apply 2 layers of Formula D Minerals foundation.</li><li style="text-align: left;">To set the foundation, apply The Ultimate Powder to your face, using a tapping motion</li><li style="text-align: left;">With MAC 129SE brush, pick up Pupa Luminys velvety baked blush to your cheeks. Be careful not to  use too much as this blush is highly pigmented.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Lips</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Apply Deborah lipstick in color 800 to your lips. If necessary, use a lip liner to define your lips</li></ul></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRS6pGmwJYAbqi3p4lbtiiFUGZQtyBDlKegbpEeHXAE34O92KERFASwu_z3kLMEhvWbv4Gob8-hH3oskJdLo3adfC06g7mNP6AYwDyenYygHv2zmQjYbsY8Sa2FUKKXjmD9dBV7iQDZo/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRS6pGmwJYAbqi3p4lbtiiFUGZQtyBDlKegbpEeHXAE34O92KERFASwu_z3kLMEhvWbv4Gob8-hH3oskJdLo3adfC06g7mNP6AYwDyenYygHv2zmQjYbsY8Sa2FUKKXjmD9dBV7iQDZo/s400/IMG_1523.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tada, you're done! I can see you :)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-Uqn2G8wqhNFTgNLSjZcM71zbxMolZaEheRdoix5yX3zaJxpoo4H7_8SxgEpnN07zhYEByo-h3nwmjEOkAffB71ovKFlRGotTJMQvZvD3oJy2cAJiLOUsnw-o-L9nFvMe_ANejFCR1g/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-Uqn2G8wqhNFTgNLSjZcM71zbxMolZaEheRdoix5yX3zaJxpoo4H7_8SxgEpnN07zhYEByo-h3nwmjEOkAffB71ovKFlRGotTJMQvZvD3oJy2cAJiLOUsnw-o-L9nFvMe_ANejFCR1g/s400/IMG_1539.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swatches for those who are interested (L-R): Pupa baked blush 04, eyeshadow duo 02, and mineral silk eyeshadow 03</td></tr></tbody></table>That's all for today, folks! Gio, thank you so much for sending me so many wonderful makeup items. I really enjoy them. For those who can have access to Pupa, I highly encourage you to try their products. So far, I like the baked blush and eyeshadow very much because they do not contain bismuth oxychloride. Unlike a certain brand whose baked products I can't use.<br /><br />I will also do a couple of reviews of these products soon. I hope you will enjoy your day.<br /><br />Last but not least, a disclaimer for FTC et. al.: The products used in this entry either came from a swap or purchased from my own pocket. For more information about My Makeup Blog's disclosure policy, <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/p/disclosure.html">click here.</a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

From Italy with Love FOTD

Hi everyone, How's your day going so far? A while ago, my friend Gio and I did another swap. This time around, I swap my Formula D Mine...

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Skin Saver: Avalon Organics Vitamin C Vitality Facial Serum

Hi everybody,<br /><br />If I did not buy Avalon Organics Vitamin C Vitality facial serum back in February, I don't know how my skin would have become now. It was a moment of desperation when my skin just broke out uncontrollably. Regardless the amount of benzoyl peroxide I piled on my face, my skin still went ka-ray-zee. The more benzoyl peroxide I used, the more sensitive and red my skin became. And I could feel the sting on my face. Yes, it was very painful. When New Leaf market had a sale on Avalon Organics Vitamin C, I decided to give it a try and bought a bottle. It cost me 17 dollars and so far, that was the best 17 bucks I have ever spent. And yes, it was like miracle, this stuff actually saved my face!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bZ-KSxnxT5RGVUWnrdGqMueRN55hI31NkOoSSEk_wi92Oyus74RBVMgXDwwALdNNowxjRGBbZdEz4Y5KQnoURZt6Zx-IOAkMZfONsTEYVaO5CZGoBM86C9QB9WPf0bNjaE5lHTjgYyk/s1600/IMG_1498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bZ-KSxnxT5RGVUWnrdGqMueRN55hI31NkOoSSEk_wi92Oyus74RBVMgXDwwALdNNowxjRGBbZdEz4Y5KQnoURZt6Zx-IOAkMZfONsTEYVaO5CZGoBM86C9QB9WPf0bNjaE5lHTjgYyk/s320/IMG_1498.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avalon Organics Vitamin C Vitality Facial Serum</td></tr></tbody></table>This year probably marked the second biggest change in my skin. The first wave came when I was in 6th grade and started to have zits. Now, I still have zits but instead of having oily skin, now I am a proud owner of my own dry/normal and sensitive skin. Yes, and I speak about it very sarcastically.<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwUk6x08MI6Ua3_4fk86dSKvL7-EDqUM05K5peXM4RRVKNsmOC2vno3oXnhpt0hVvNr1rXeW0lAYfScNcgDOmPz2Nug0Cd8l7_qx94l-rgDzWleT_jStVmnnRgMBTdKqtJzMSU45eSgM/s1600/IMG_1500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwUk6x08MI6Ua3_4fk86dSKvL7-EDqUM05K5peXM4RRVKNsmOC2vno3oXnhpt0hVvNr1rXeW0lAYfScNcgDOmPz2Nug0Cd8l7_qx94l-rgDzWleT_jStVmnnRgMBTdKqtJzMSU45eSgM/s400/IMG_1500.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glass bottle with the pump, 1oz of serum goodness inside</td></tr></tbody></table>To be honest, I would probably be the last person on Earth to use organic skincare. The thing is, I was quite happy with my regular, non-organic skincare products that I found no reason to switch at all. If it ain't broke, why fix it, right? Also, I always thought organic skincare products are expensive and maybe ineffective. Nuh uh, not this one. While it is a serum, it feels like a watery lotion to me. As I continued using benzoyl peroxide, I could not use vitamin C or any other antioxidants at the same time because they negate each other. So, I applied this serum in the daytime underneath my sunscreen and benzoyl peroxide at night.<br /><br />After the first week, I noticed the amount of zits came down significantly. Also, the ones that were still there did not hurt me as much anymore. After the second or third week, I totally nixed benzoyl peroxide and used it as a day and night cream. The thing about this product is it absorbs quickly and made you think it does not moisturize enough. However, it does contain water-attracting ingredients such as glycerin to keep your skin moisturized all day. My skin did not feel tight or under-moisturized at all. After a month of constant use, I saw some glow on my face and the scars I had started to fade as well.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTLTQpG5ICJ5d_H-nsTFiLn3utgDzc8H-9me_nFV50vmjt2sgugh2d_NMcVy_xApyUeToJoM5odEHKk-TeMOcGtKDE4tuZbef549Jjup6HwYtScrvvWrA4aE_cEMbT3As4L3fYkwWSK4/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTLTQpG5ICJ5d_H-nsTFiLn3utgDzc8H-9me_nFV50vmjt2sgugh2d_NMcVy_xApyUeToJoM5odEHKk-TeMOcGtKDE4tuZbef549Jjup6HwYtScrvvWrA4aE_cEMbT3As4L3fYkwWSK4/s400/IMG_1502.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since February, I've used about 3/4 of the bottle. The amount of serum I have is around the second line from the bottom.</td></tr></tbody></table>Since then, I started using other products from Derma E and Lancer Dermatology but this is a product I go to whenever I feel like my skin is getting out of control. While it has other types of moisturizers in the jar, I prefer the pump a lot more. Air can oxidize the antioxidants and render them useless when you have a wide open jar. With them pump, you have an option to close it when you don't use it and it also minimizes air exposure as well. It's a tip I learned from my friend Gio :)<br /><br /><blockquote><b>Ingredients</b> (from <a href="http://drugstore.com/">drugstore.com</a>):<br />Lavendula Angustifolia (Organic Lavender), Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomille), Camellia Sinensis (White Tea), Arnica Montana Extract (Organic), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Juice (Organic), Emulsifying Wax, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Vegetable Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5), Olive Squalane, Helianthus Annuus (Organic Sunflower) Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Glyceryl Laurate, Lemon Bioflavonoids, Melatonin, Organic Borago Officinalis (Borage), Linum Usitatissimum (flax seed oils), Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Oil, Soy Lecithin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, Laminaria Digitata Kelp Extract, Allantoin, Calendula Officinalis Extracts (Organic), Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth 20, Glyceryl Stearate, Amodimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol</blockquote>Last but not least: if you use vitamin C, you should use sunscreen on top of it when you go out. Otherwise, you may get sunburn. Also, I found this serum to temporarily change my skin pH and make my mineral foundation oxidize quicker. Therefore, most times my foundation ended up looking darker. A good primer will eliminate that.<br /><br />That's all for now. This product is not that expensive ($19.99-$23.99 depending on where you get it) and it's available in a lot of places beside health food store. So far, I found it at Target and Walgreens but the price is cheapest at the local health food store.<br /><br /><b>Disclaimer</b> for FTC et al: I bought this product for my personal use. I like it so much so I did a review. It's my own experience and what works for me may or may not work for other people. For other information regarding My Makeup Blog's disclaimer policy, <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/p/disclosure.html">click here</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Skin Saver: Avalon Organics Vitamin C Vitality Facial Serum

Hi everybody, If I did not buy Avalon Organics Vitamin C Vitality facial serum back in February, I don't know how my skin would have be...

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Lancer Dermatology Giveaway Winner

Hello everybody,<br /><br />How are we doing so far?<br /><br />First of all, I would like to thank everybody for participating in this giveaway. Also, the extra thank you's go to those who took time to tweet. And you totally should, because the extra tweet earns you an extra entry.<br /><br />I noticed none of you posted on your blogs about this giveaway and I wonder why. Can anybody who participated care to elaborate? I want to know so I can make future giveaways easier for the participants, while giving everbody extra chances to earn entries.<br /><br />With all that said, I tallied up the result last night (or very early in the morning, depending on how you see it.) There were 17 participants with 1 repeated entry. I guess that person didn't mean to cheat, maybe said person's computer had a problem. Therefore, I deleted the repeated entry. After that, I added an extra chance for those who retweeted and five of you did (thank you so very much!) Therefore, the total came to 22. Since the header took 1 line, the contestants started in row 2 and ended in row 23 in the worksheet.<br /><br />I used the magic of Random.org to pick the winner and...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3StKMeXkc31Del0eOpN9sTbyopNXVj2GbBtOggfCqI-ELL7zMCU8cBkwgk9yV_pIPASeY92Qq_kkmfrvQGnb7_9syagagqfDwkiwbL4iXBKdjc0-mtLrBqCJWMg0shaYqeDQ8BAhFNgI/s1600/lancer+random.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3StKMeXkc31Del0eOpN9sTbyopNXVj2GbBtOggfCqI-ELL7zMCU8cBkwgk9yV_pIPASeY92Qq_kkmfrvQGnb7_9syagagqfDwkiwbL4iXBKdjc0-mtLrBqCJWMg0shaYqeDQ8BAhFNgI/s400/lancer+random.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Tada! We have one: lucky number 14!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMfb7bUnUdkXczVE_IwIADylAE3qcZEbzM3zln2S82QTsm07_wgwaCJ2draoX7GIxobH_p_lvHXskD5eQPMlZ5xLJicKOu__AoNmnPUHCwP40qzf1RKXiUg3GDZx9hcf1-e2KiTb-OXQ/s1600/Lancer+giveaway+winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMfb7bUnUdkXczVE_IwIADylAE3qcZEbzM3zln2S82QTsm07_wgwaCJ2draoX7GIxobH_p_lvHXskD5eQPMlZ5xLJicKOu__AoNmnPUHCwP40qzf1RKXiUg3GDZx9hcf1-e2KiTb-OXQ/s400/Lancer+giveaway+winner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Congratulations, BrooklyShoeBabe! You've been a long time reader and you totally deserve this! Please enjoy this skincare set once it arrives.<br /><br />Also, this begs a point: when you have a chance to earn an extra entry to a giveaway, please take it! A retweet takes you less than 5 seconds and it earns you an extra chance. You don't even have to follow me on Twitter to do that. Ms. BrooklyShoeBabe had two chances to win and she actually won in one of her chances. It's totally worth it, y'all. And if I haven't convinced you yet, in one of the giveaways I won, I actually won on my second chance (the retweet.) So please don't underestimate an extra chance (or two extra chances in this case.) You will never know how helpful they are. It's not like I want to advertise my blog (ok, I do, a little bit), but the truth is I want you all to win something from this blog. I know it will make you happy. And knowing that will make me happy, too!<br /><br />Ok, guys, thanks for participating. Again, congratulations to BrooklynShoeBabe. More giveaways are in the horizon. And don't forget we have a blog anniversary next month, meaning a hopefully big giveaway/reader appreciation is on the way.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Lancer Dermatology Giveaway Winner

Hello everybody, How are we doing so far? First of all, I would like to thank everybody for participating in this giveaway. Also, the extra ...

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Stay Cool as a Cucumber

Hi everybody,<br /><br />Happy Monday! Did you guys stayed up to watch "Lost" series finale last night? I did, although I am not a "Lost" follower. I tried to watch for a couple of episodes in season 2 and well, I got lost! The series finale was awesome, all the things from this series make sense to me now. And I want to watch the whole series from beginning to end now, but that may be something to do after May.<br /><br />Lately, my neck of the woods has been hotter than hot. I bet Hades probably is a bit cooler than the Seven Hills. Yesterday, the temperature was 97 degrees F and by the time I went to bed, outdoor temperature was 78! Needless to say, all day I marveled around town to find cool places to stay because the AC in my apartment would not cut it. And yes, driving in sweat is not a lot of fun, although Christina Aguleira made it sound like something else, you know "sweat dripping over my body, gonna get dirrty" ect.<br /><br />She can be dirrty but I want to feel dry and cool, cool as a cucumber in 97 degrees F! While I didn't feel so cool, at least some parts of my body were dry, because of this guy:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTjQEv9pSv1wAN2c4zVFu3VZBuY48X0cePkszCZrTvoGxwtxOZTlQwq5j6NKHJjYPfZWLOANoii0JpiJgI4z-YaHpptz6tMtZn5WRrcyex-bnTQuDnWGUEt5i13J1EXdHpRxu6ZuZtek/s1600/Dove+clinical+protection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTjQEv9pSv1wAN2c4zVFu3VZBuY48X0cePkszCZrTvoGxwtxOZTlQwq5j6NKHJjYPfZWLOANoii0JpiJgI4z-YaHpptz6tMtZn5WRrcyex-bnTQuDnWGUEt5i13J1EXdHpRxu6ZuZtek/s400/Dove+clinical+protection.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dove Clinical Protection original clean, image credit: <a href="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/hpc/detail-page/B0012N49YW-1-lg.jpg">Amazon.com</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />Nope, I'm not lying, it's <i>that</i> good. I resisted wearing deodorants for years because of the smell. It's a catch-22, y'all: you don't wear deodorant, you smell; you wear deodorant, you smell (like deodorant). Either way, people knows how you smell. And believe me, the scents of deodorants are pretty strong. Either I have a good nose or that, because I can smell a woman and her deodorant a mile away. The smell sometimes can be a bit obnoxious. And some deodorant smells even give me headache!<br /><br />But this Dove Clinical Protection is an antiperspirant, meaning if you sweat a lot it will protect you from sweating. And no, it does not block your sweat glands or cause cancer. Those are just rumors. Dove Clinical Protection contains 20% aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine, the highest concentration available for an OTC antiperspirant, hence the name "Clinical Protection".<br /><br />The one I use is in original scent and it smells like a Dove bar. It also feels like souffle when I apply to my armpits. (Two clicks are enough per side, btw.) The first time I used it, I checked once in a while to see if there's wetness around said areas. Despite the extreme heat and humidity of the south, I did not even drop a sweat there! To top that, this stuff glides on smooth, dries quickly, and does not stain your black/dark clothes. Also, if you just shave, applying this won't sting you. It's a keeper, people!<br /><br />So, would I buy it again? You betcha! I know it is expensive but you don't use a lot. Since I don't sweat that much, I apply once and forget about it until...well, until I remember about it again, which takes maybe 2 days later. During that time, my underarm areas stay dry and smooth. And no funky gardenia/lilac/coconut/rose/jasmine/cream cheese smell there, either! (I'm just kidding about the cream cheese smell, folks! Can you even think of cream cheese scented antiperspirant?!)<br /><br />If you want to know how antiperspirant works, How Stuff Works has an informative article. <a href="http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/underarm-care/problems/question627.htm">Click here</a> to read it.<br /><br />And now, <b>a disclaimer</b> for FTC et al: I got this product from a promotional package but I didn't use it until now (because I don't sweat that much in winter.) This is some good stuff, seriously. But again, I don't sweat that much, my sweating is around the normal range. So this is just my experience and you may experience the same if you sweat as much as I do. However, if you have hyperhydrosis, this product will only work to a certain extend and you may need to see a doctor for your condition. For more information about My Makeup Blog's disclosure policy, <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/p/disclosure.html">click here</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Stay Cool as a Cucumber

Hi everybody, Happy Monday! Did you guys stayed up to watch "Lost" series finale last night? I did, although I am not a "Lost...

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Belly at Large: Cat vs. Snake, an Epic Battle

Yo, home girls! Belly's here with a Hollywood action story for you. Have you watched "Snake on a Plane"? Well, forget about it. We have a new snake story called "Cat vs. Snake: an Epic Battle" starring Mr. Belly.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb_bJvOtPWjaGRWBJyjKBEl3mPPKhx90mQE3uFHWsxDdJACTXIYxuosjOp4n_hfH2INmi7dfJH3a8MPJ16xW2IzvUZqO9Y0GDnFV2_j0ayLHTGeO0TK3CiFUtEBOit5TmeLZfb89k10o/s1600/IMG_0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb_bJvOtPWjaGRWBJyjKBEl3mPPKhx90mQE3uFHWsxDdJACTXIYxuosjOp4n_hfH2INmi7dfJH3a8MPJ16xW2IzvUZqO9Y0GDnFV2_j0ayLHTGeO0TK3CiFUtEBOit5TmeLZfb89k10o/s400/IMG_0647.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forget Will Smith, y'all! I'm the star in this movie. Kitty Power, roar!</td></tr></tbody></table>Well, it happened like this. On a hot spring day that felt like summer, the mamarazzi went outside to get a newspaper and saw this giant black snake chilling right in her front yard. The snake looked like this:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieFTLnqua9Y_eRs6zxn8pNMcC3LDIzW9gCvDbuvtvrmzA0es8i7cTQfpKgzDzl5vAiqfVqaCkeVAfb3O7nVpxwm_BrsEWK92Kg1jCRmWZDttVA1MFY11kArxqod5aq-h7EulZGjOV_Ls/s1600/RedBelliedBlackSnake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieFTLnqua9Y_eRs6zxn8pNMcC3LDIzW9gCvDbuvtvrmzA0es8i7cTQfpKgzDzl5vAiqfVqaCkeVAfb3O7nVpxwm_BrsEWK92Kg1jCRmWZDttVA1MFY11kArxqod5aq-h7EulZGjOV_Ls/s400/RedBelliedBlackSnake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, the mamarazzi didn't take this picture. She was too scared to even move! The picture came from <a href="http://www.wettropics.gov.au/st/rainforest_explorer/Resources/Images/animals/snakes/RedBelliedBlackSnake.jpg">this site</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table>The rat was making some rattling noise and the mamarazzi had no idea if it was poisonous or not. Also, she did not come close enough to see if it had a split tongue. She came back and forth around the door area about 5 times before she remembered I am the snake slayer.<br /><br />She called "Belly, Belly" for some couple of times and there I was, her feline knight in stripped fur armor came charging in.<br /><br />"Belly, get the snake," she said.<br /><br />I moved a step closer, the snake coiled and hissed.<br /><br />"I am Bellywulf!" I roared before leaping forward.  The snake ran away. But immediately, it ran back! This time, the snake coiled tightly and its tail rattled. It was kinda fierce and freaky at the same time.<br /><br />"Belly, tell the snake to go away!" the mamarazzi said.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>"Ok, this is a tough one. Let me conjure my ancient Egyptian knowledge passed from <a href="http://inanna.virtualave.net/bastet.html">Bastet</a>, the cat goddess. I was on my Sphinx pose, staring at the snake. Eventually, it became a staring contest between me and the bastard. I didn't move an inch and neither was it.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg830N5Z5nhev8CRNV0IhIgdd1Vqc2C0LVdraAbslsfKOnhvzYmrvfszTXxD66Q9NPEswx6Xd4Y5sLNFRrv1HZom5YdI2l0fK78DTyGV2R7lwGtd8I0i3ENc5_heqxTyy1SVHc7e6kz8hI/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg830N5Z5nhev8CRNV0IhIgdd1Vqc2C0LVdraAbslsfKOnhvzYmrvfszTXxD66Q9NPEswx6Xd4Y5sLNFRrv1HZom5YdI2l0fK78DTyGV2R7lwGtd8I0i3ENc5_heqxTyy1SVHc7e6kz8hI/s400/IMG_0701.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The modified Sphinx pose for beginners</td></tr></tbody></table>At this point, the mamarazzi got a bit tired and said, "Belly, chase the snake. Snake, go away!"<br /><br />I pretended not to listen. My 1000 Stare is working great, the snake started to relax his body. But then, the mamarazzi had to mess it up and threw a pine cone at it! The thing sprang up in the air and hissed loudly.<br /><br />"Woman, let me handle this!' I said. Then, I conjured the 1000 Stare again. But this time around, I felt the weight of the world on top of me.<br /><br />"Dao! Dao! Do something! I'm losing my power here!" I said telepathically.<br /><br />All of the sudden, it rang in her human brain that snakes are amphibians so they rely on the surrounding temperature to function. That's why we don't see them in winter, it's too cold for them. So, the mamarazzi came inside, thinking of getting some ice to throw at the snake but got none. Water would work, so she got her beloved spray bottle with cleaning solution and sprayed at it.<br /><br />Spray one: snake jumped. It rattled me, sending me sprinting backward. I was on my toes with arching back.  The mamarazzi forgot I don't like water, either.<br /><br />Spray two: snake really slithered away. Yay! So she kept on spraying a couple more times before headed out of the house. She ended up carrying a spray bottle around her (muhahahaha!) <br /><br />The morale of this story? It's good to have someone who's willing to rescue you but if all fails, you need to have a plan B like what my mamarazzi did. The knight in shining armor, albeit being Bellywulf, can do so much to protect you :)<br /><br />That's all for today, folks! This is a true story, I should be rewarded with kitty chow.<br /><br />Also, don't forget to join <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/lancer-dermatology-giveaway-200-worth.html">Lancer Dermatology Skincare Giveaway</a>. The mamarazzi likes the stuff and I wish she could use it on me but she said it's not for kittens. Oh well, anybody wants to sponsor me some stuff?<br /><br />Love, peace, and tuna fish,<br />Mr. Belly<br /><br />P.S: If you like my blog (it's true, this is my blog, Dao just fills in for me), please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Belly at Large: Cat vs. Snake, an Epic Battle

Yo, home girls! Belly's here with a Hollywood action story for you. Have you watched "Snake on a Plane"? Well, forget about it...

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Lancer Dermatology Giveaway ($200 worth in prize)

Hello there, my beauties!<br /><br />How's Monday going for ya? Me, I wish I slept early last night. But let's put sleep aside, shall we? Today, I'm so excited to announce the biggest giveaway My Makeup Blog has ever hosted. The generous folks from <a href="http://www.lancerdermatology.com/">Lancer Dermatology</a> and their PR sponsored a set of skincare products I reviewed last week (<a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/clear-skin-with-lancer-method-skincare.html">click here</a> for the review.) This means one lucky reader will get a chance to win this trio of products worth $200! No, I'm not kidding, the combined cost is 200 bucks! How swell is that?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA6vbDBCwAlYdldBrKul1VEPjix2NAhRro0rKaeFXoAsUdG5yPtGurefZC0yrSdWb01N3Okx_m2-vhCPfvrxuQXQxItgsYYP1-GeC6rsDgrEeLfu6jaLFYtkLQkOHEkzWc48E5M0ILiA/s1600/IMG_1449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA6vbDBCwAlYdldBrKul1VEPjix2NAhRro0rKaeFXoAsUdG5yPtGurefZC0yrSdWb01N3Okx_m2-vhCPfvrxuQXQxItgsYYP1-GeC6rsDgrEeLfu6jaLFYtkLQkOHEkzWc48E5M0ILiA/s400/IMG_1449.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />Wanna know how to enter this contest? Jump!<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br />There are two ways to win:<br /><br /><b>1. Be a follower of my blog via Google Connection:</b><br /><br />This is super easy and won't take you more than 3 clicks. You take a look on the right sidebar, the "Follow" box is right underneath my Twitter and RSS buttons. Just click on it and it will take you to the rest of the procedure.<br /><br /><b>2. Be my email subscriber:</b><br /><br />This is like sitting in the front row seat of my blog: you get an email delivered to you everyday, on the day I blog. If I don't blog that day, you don't have any new mail to alert you of the cool stuff happening at My Makeup Blog. It does not take that long to register, either, and once you do, <i>please verify</i> your email address. If you don't, your entry will be voided.<br /><br /><form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=MyMakeupBlog', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=400,height=400');return true" style="border-bottom: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; border-left: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; border-right: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; border-top: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">Enter your email address:<br /><input autocomplete="OFF" name="email" style="width: 300px;" /><br /><input name="uri" type="hidden" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" /><input type="submit" /><br />Delivered by <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form><br />Once you are a follower, just <span style="font-size: large;">fill this form</span> and that's it, you're done! One entry per person, please!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The contest is over, thank you for your interest!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>For extra credits, you can do either or both of this:<br /><br /><ol><li>Blog about this in your blog: it does not have to be a separate entry, a link to this entry will earn you an extra raffle ticket to win.</li><li>Retweet on Twitter for an extra chance to win: <b>RT @MyMakeupBlog for a chance to win $200 worth of skincare products from Lancer Dermatology http://bit.ly/bw0oeT </b></li></ol><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This giveaway is opened from <b>now</b> until 12p<b>m EST or GMT +5, May 23rd, 2010</b>. Winner will be randomly chosen and announced here on my blog so please check back to see if you win. This contest is opened to U.S and Canada residents 18 or older.</div></div><br />Good luck, everybody!<br /><br /><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a> P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border-bottom: 0pt; border-left: 0pt; border-right: 0pt; border-top: 0pt; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Lancer Dermatology Giveaway ($200 worth in prize)

Hello there, my beauties! How's Monday going for ya? Me, I wish I slept early last night. But let's put sleep aside, shall we? Today...

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UPrinting.com Business Card Giveaway Winner

Hi everyone,<br /><br />It's time to announce the winner of UPrinting.com Business Card giveaway. As usual, I use the true random number generator at <a href="http://random.org/">Random.org</a> to pick a winner and...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1Bz8mf6DTZDBPcM65vZZtONq0pHQnW3jOA1g0ygqaFKMFMEjf2-5rmjRBFjGjsWSz-nGCzP_omK3zyp-85yhST1lkfOslfe_vDP5lLjXX04CHh8sbmCIpBypyX04B0FiUXnZonVGEjY/s1600/UPrinting+Giveaway+Winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1Bz8mf6DTZDBPcM65vZZtONq0pHQnW3jOA1g0ygqaFKMFMEjf2-5rmjRBFjGjsWSz-nGCzP_omK3zyp-85yhST1lkfOslfe_vDP5lLjXX04CHh8sbmCIpBypyX04B0FiUXnZonVGEjY/s320/UPrinting+Giveaway+Winner.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Congratulations, <a href="http://beautyandgardens.blogspot.com/">Stephanie</a>! </div><div style="text-align: left;">You are the third participant since the giveaway started. I'm sure these business cards will be useful for your business. I will let UPrinting.com know and they will contact you shortly.</div><br />For other readers: there are other giveaways coming soon. In fact, I will announce the Lancer Dermatology skincare giveaway next week. Please stay tuned for that one.<br /><br /><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a> P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

UPrinting.com Business Card Giveaway Winner

Hi everyone, It's time to announce the winner of UPrinting.com Business Card giveaway. As usual, I use the true random number generator ...

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Peach & Cream FOTD

Hi everyone,<br /><br />Last week, I realized my passport was about to expire. After filling what seems like a million pieces of paperwork, I was ready to submit them to get a new passport. However, I still needed one thing: passport photo. From past experience, I realize doing a smokey eyed look with nude lips for passport photo is not a good strategy. The photographer is no Richard Avedon and most of the time, you get florescent light instead of studio light. So if you do the smokey eyed, your pictures may end up with you looking tragic in it. And I am not even kidding you, I have proof. But to save your soul, I am not going to share :)<br /><br />And this was what I came up with:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKotEAgCc_a9rUQdOYmtzBk4oZ3fn3z9j_tgtTg1n-XSJ-P_JVIA-1nTPYsrs9AMQH0LtXnBA2k_82tZ_QWaIPocZXZHaoBXf4ukNGOs-FJ39YefyWw5hBuzfAaRQucU7d5QrmPB0AJ60/s1600/IMG_1460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKotEAgCc_a9rUQdOYmtzBk4oZ3fn3z9j_tgtTg1n-XSJ-P_JVIA-1nTPYsrs9AMQH0LtXnBA2k_82tZ_QWaIPocZXZHaoBXf4ukNGOs-FJ39YefyWw5hBuzfAaRQucU7d5QrmPB0AJ60/s400/IMG_1460.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peach & Cream FOTD</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkazYwVDWQC_-VB1tcexGcVo029nn4baZhkhyphenhyphenMhapqwhDROe2_YymkN7mhBo0AkInqncq1whHgu6q0Z81Y0Zixd3UQcZLkOWroAzr8KmTeAROzivEWKhMhxdnfR1V1-2ePEJziD2J2tHM/s1600/IMG_1455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkazYwVDWQC_-VB1tcexGcVo029nn4baZhkhyphenhyphenMhapqwhDROe2_YymkN7mhBo0AkInqncq1whHgu6q0Z81Y0Zixd3UQcZLkOWroAzr8KmTeAROzivEWKhMhxdnfR1V1-2ePEJziD2J2tHM/s400/IMG_1455.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The players: MAC Blacktrack gel liner, Studio Sculp NC35 concealer (it's too dark for me!), Formula D Mineral's eye shadows in Bella, Quirky, Peach & Cream, and Granite, MAC lip glass in Sock Hop, Rimmel London lipstick in Crush, various brushes, (not shown) Formula D Mineral's foundation, The Ultimate Powder, (not shown) Flushed blush, various pencils</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eyes</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCO-fdbEXCbqTaq9KtYvE5e9BhhZw0pJ5WhO9KT4GQzdnR0tVjjAKEIeuMBDnh4u2Bf2X-qUhOFDUeAm2l71tqHFSsUXShWERQ-wI2HcycQzrTEx3qdjDqwsi4vkODqbgVBY4VgdSGZHo/s1600/IMG_1466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCO-fdbEXCbqTaq9KtYvE5e9BhhZw0pJ5WhO9KT4GQzdnR0tVjjAKEIeuMBDnh4u2Bf2X-qUhOFDUeAm2l71tqHFSsUXShWERQ-wI2HcycQzrTEx3qdjDqwsi4vkODqbgVBY4VgdSGZHo/s400/IMG_1466.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><ul><li>Apply <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45711322/peach-and-cream-pale-apricot-vegan">Peach & Cream</a> on the inner half and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45612164/quirky-nude-pink-champagne-vegan">Quirky</a> on the outer half of the eye, using ELF eyeshadow brush. With EcoTools shading brush (the chubby one), blend the two colors together where they meet.</li><li>With EcoTools crease brush, contour the outer-v and half way to the crease with <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45609735/granite-brownish-gray-vegan-eye-shadow">Granite</a>. Since it is a dark color, use as little as possible.</li><li>With the same brush, pick up Bella to highlight the brow bone and inner corner of the eyes area.</li><li>Using MAC 266, apply Blacktrack liner and wing it out at the end.</li><li>Fill in the brow with an eyebrow pencil and smooth it out with the eyebrow/lash comb.</li><li>Curl your lashes and apply mascara.</li><li>Optional: apply a silver or white eyeliner to the lower lash line to make your eyes look more wide awake.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqJ0FDRkhaKve79QP2WKtErBb0CzUMHYQICL43D12VU4TikNrds6LhvLHQnkbKSyN40_7vQz34hHnMSlaAc4hkWCpynaFNtUtGhEEh07QM2UEkIHBcbopd8wl63ZXdxlTP-zi-8f7m3U/s1600/IMG_1467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqJ0FDRkhaKve79QP2WKtErBb0CzUMHYQICL43D12VU4TikNrds6LhvLHQnkbKSyN40_7vQz34hHnMSlaAc4hkWCpynaFNtUtGhEEh07QM2UEkIHBcbopd8wl63ZXdxlTP-zi-8f7m3U/s400/IMG_1467.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neutral but not smokey :)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Face</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><ul><li> Apply <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45698965/the-ultimate-powder-vegan-face-powder">The Ultimate Powder</a> as a primer to your skin, using ELF Studio powder brush.</li><li>With the same brush, apply mineral foundation</li><li>With a concealer brush, apply MAC Studio Sculpt concealer to the under eye area and blend well.</li><li>Set the foundation and concealer with The Ultimate Powder.</li><li>With Sonia Kashuk flat top blush brush, apply <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45706282/flushed-bright-apricot-vegan-mineral">Flushed</a> to your cheeks.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lips</b></span></div><ul><li>Apply Rimmel London Crush to your lips and top it with Sock Hop lip glass.</li><li> Use NYX lip liner in Natural to line and define the shape of your lips.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDkxH11Z3E062H5E7i55wU-CbkO6lwggUj5yyfifBU7xbwHRen38vheQ10pv9UEDLjzUC3305VcrLxxZj9r_IxfoRPCBA6J9LxlP764Ov9nDa5UyIegiKbehkIelTM_YvV8WABTJLDdQ/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDkxH11Z3E062H5E7i55wU-CbkO6lwggUj5yyfifBU7xbwHRen38vheQ10pv9UEDLjzUC3305VcrLxxZj9r_IxfoRPCBA6J9LxlP764Ov9nDa5UyIegiKbehkIelTM_YvV8WABTJLDdQ/s400/IMG_1462.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another shot of moi :)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"> It was so hot that day, my face almost melted. My passport photo came out all right. It could have been a lot better but heat and humidity almost melted me away. Anyways, I got my passport back super quick because I spent extra money to expedite it. You will never know when you'll need your passport so please keep it as current as possible.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> That's all, folks! I'll announce the winner of UPrinting business card giveaway later today. Please come back to see if you are the winner.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Peach & Cream FOTD

Hi everyone, Last week, I realized my passport was about to expire. After filling what seems like a million pieces of paperwork, I was ready...

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Belly at Large: Debut Video

What's up girlfriends?<br /><br />Do you miss me? Well, you don't have to miss me no mo'. Yours truly, el Gato Supremo, grace you with his first video. La mamarazzi (aka Dao) decided to branch out to new things. It's annoying, yo. It's like having a friendnemy that won't quit on you, regardless of how awesome you are.<br /><br />She filmed this video to submit for the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ3wgX2Oruo">VW Punch Dub</a> commercial. They said it's not long enough but can you imagine how fabulous it would be if yours truly made the cut?<br /><br />Anyways, enjoy! And don't go too hard on the mamarazzi. She's still green in this thing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-fa021162c3627770-3194" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw3X4LJG666F7dSVEoyxQmHj1HEeaFDZvW2yUKMenNUvFo4nGAaQR3NDYF7X5Ed2BopD17256slg-k-NEBBUMcaYM3yhAX0uCOUPrk8tgw-BT3-sdGEizXzVyEGGoWQ9AJCCys" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br />Love, peace, and tuna fish,<br /><br />Mr. Belly, aka El Gato Supremo<br /><br />P.S: If you like my blog (yes, it's mine! Dao just fills in for me on the day I don't blog), please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot! Also, <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/uprintingcom-business-card-giveaway.html">UPrinting.com giveaway</a> ends at 5pm EST today. Please join! I wanted to make some cards to give out to fans but Dao said no. I'm smad at her!

Belly at Large: Debut Video

What's up girlfriends? Do you miss me? Well, you don't have to miss me no mo'. Yours truly, el Gato Supremo, grace you with his ...

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Clear Skin with The Lancer Method Skincare

Hi everybody,<br /><br />Hope you don't mind a late post today. Remember my worst breakout of the year? At the beginning of this year, the insanely cold weather triggered something I've never experienced before: dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin. Now, I'm used to the oily and acne-prone combo but remove the oil, add dryness and sensitivity on top is something new to me. Immediately, things that worked for me in the past went to the trash bin. Either they were not moisturizing enough or soothing enough. I needed something new and I need it fast.<br /><br />Then came an invitation for me to join a new skincare line from <a href="http://www.lancerdermatology.com/">Lancer Dermatology</a>. After reading the information in Dr. Harold Lancer's website, I thought I should give it a try. The Lancer method is quite simple. It only involves 3 steps: polish/exfoliate, cleanse, and repair.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA6vbDBCwAlYdldBrKul1VEPjix2NAhRro0rKaeFXoAsUdG5yPtGurefZC0yrSdWb01N3Okx_m2-vhCPfvrxuQXQxItgsYYP1-GeC6rsDgrEeLfu6jaLFYtkLQkOHEkzWc48E5M0ILiA/s1600/IMG_1449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA6vbDBCwAlYdldBrKul1VEPjix2NAhRro0rKaeFXoAsUdG5yPtGurefZC0yrSdWb01N3Okx_m2-vhCPfvrxuQXQxItgsYYP1-GeC6rsDgrEeLfu6jaLFYtkLQkOHEkzWc48E5M0ILiA/s400/IMG_1449.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lancer Dermatology products for acne-prone skin (L-R): Repair, Polish, Cleanse</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I gave these products a month-long trial. Want to know if it works? Jump!<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Here is how I use the products:<br /><ul><li>Wash daily with <a href="http://www.lancerdermatology.com/ecomm_products_details.php?id=2">Exfoliating Blemish Cleanser</a></li><li> Every other night, exfoliate with <a href="http://www.lancerdermatology.com/ecomm_products_details.php?id=4">Blemish Control Polish</a> (I wonder if they have something in French...j/k!)</li><li>At night, moisturize with <a href="http://www.lancerdermatology.com/ecomm_products_details.php?id=7">AM/PM Nourishing Treatment</a></li></ul>After 2 weeks, I saw immediate improvement in my skin texture and clarity. It became baby smooth and looked a lot better. I even noticed how smooth my mineral foundation glide.<br /><br />The <b>Exfoliating Blemish Cleanser</b> is designed to use daily. It is a gel with some exfoliating beads and is absolutely gentle to the skin. The smell is very refreshing: it's minty but there's no mint in this product (it's tea tree oil!) I always feel awake when I use it in the morning.<br /><br />The <b>Blemish Control Polish</b> is like a microdermabrasion at home. The main ingredient is sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and it can be painful if you don't wet your face well. The only gripe I have of this polish is how hard it is to squeeze the product out. The mixture is quite thick and whenever I use, I need to squeeze, squeeze, and squeeze some more just to get a pea size of product. But that's all I need: a tiny pea size.<br /><br />The <b>AM/PM Nourishing Treatment</b> is some kind of wonderful by itself: it's an all-in-one product for your face and eyes. No, you don't need an extra eye cream. And no, it didn't give eyes some styles. This product is very moisturizing and soothing. It contains shea butter among many other moisturizing ingredients. My skin tends to work well with shea butter and when the weather was really cold, this lotion was all I need for the night time. And did I tell you it is as thick as butter? All I need is half a dime of creme to cover my face, that's all!<br /><br />After the second week, things started to level off. Had I pan out the polish to twice a week, I could have maintained the clarity of my skin. However, I used it every other day and started to have mild breakouts. Also, the weather started to get hot and the nourishing treatment became too oily for me.<br /><br />Since I have mild acne skin, this skincare line words for me. The cleanser and polish do not contain benzoyl peroxide but they do have small amounts of salicylic acid. Those with sensitive, mild acne-prone, and dry skin will benefit from this line to maintain the clarity of their skin. The price tags are not cheap, though: the cleanser and polish both cost $50 a piece while the nourishing treatment is priced at $100. (The last one could have made a nice Mother's Day gift if I could afford it.)<br /><br />And you want to know the good news? Lancer Dermatology wants to give away an exact set of this product to one lucky winner of My Makeup Blog. Stay tuned until next week and I'll tell you more about this giveaway. But we still have the <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/uprintingcom-business-card-giveaway.html">UPrinting.com Business Card giveaway</a> until 5pm tomorrow. Please join if you haven't already done so already!<br /><br />Last but not least, legal disclaimer: the above products were generously furnished for P.R purposes. The opinions and experience from this blog entry are my own and they may be different from yours. Skincare is a very intimate issue, what works for me may not work for you. However, I strive to give you the most honest opinion of these products so you can get better understanding from them. For more information about My Makeup Blog's disclosure policy, <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/p/disclosure.html">click here</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

Clear Skin with The Lancer Method Skincare

Hi everybody, Hope you don't mind a late post today. Remember my worst breakout of the year? At the beginning of this year, the insanely...

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May Agenda

Hi everybody,<br /><br />Wow, I can't believe almost a week went by without me blogging! Unbelievable! If it were last year, I would have freaked out. Back then, I was very into blogging and if I didn't blog, I would have felt empty. Also, back then I didn't have so many things on my plate.<br /><br />Now, things look like this:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjxZAf7lhr-kcl-qjhgWRLmHbpAd56pI0J5wzLGJvb5iQCGSu6Vhohd7-99tlZODcJdgDHAKXO64UYFWXrJiP78l8Bmzm-UkTf4Cfh307isZ8_SdDia6P5OXpS70dsMPaTsGeqmgVXpM/s1600/busy_person1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjxZAf7lhr-kcl-qjhgWRLmHbpAd56pI0J5wzLGJvb5iQCGSu6Vhohd7-99tlZODcJdgDHAKXO64UYFWXrJiP78l8Bmzm-UkTf4Cfh307isZ8_SdDia6P5OXpS70dsMPaTsGeqmgVXpM/s400/busy_person1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but without the nice desk!</td></tr></tbody></table>Let's see what's in store for May:<br /><br />1. Study GRE: I need to ride this bad boy hard to get 1200+ GRE score. My math is good but my vocabulary is horrible. I need so much work to improve my vocab. However, to think of it, my vocabulary is not that bad. Actually, it has been improving significantly since the last time I took the test. Of the 600 words in the list, I already knew 2/3 of it. So I only need to study around 200 new words (or words I don't have clear definitions.) It's not easy but it's doable.<br /><br />2. Apply for PhD programs: I already narrowed down the programs I want to apply. Now it's the matter of soliciting recommendations and go through the application process myself.<br /><br />3. Take the GRE test: please God, make this the last time I take this test! I don't do so well with tests, especially the ones on the computer. The last time I took the GRE, my score was about 70 points higher than in the practice test. Also, I got the perfect score for math part. I pray my math score is going to be as good :)<br /><br />4. Blogging: as much as I can. Please don't pressure me!<br /><br />5. Running <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/formulaDminerals">Formula D Minerals</a> on Etsy: so far, business is slow. I had 3 purchases during the last two weeks and it seems like Etsy has a problem with Canadian customers. And I know Canada loves me! Argh!<br /><br />6. Writing that book: yes, I have a book I want to finish. And I think each and every single one of us wants to write a book one day. My mission of this year is to actually finish writing a book and cross it out of my "To Do List for Life." Now, getting it published is another thing. And I do want everybody to read my book. With this rate, I might finish it this summer and we will see how things go.<br /><br />So yes, my plate is full at this point. The one thing I want is to get a job that pays well. The economy is tough right now and my field is even tougher to get hired. I just need to stay afloat in 2010 because I know 2011 is definitely going to be a lot better!<br /><br />Also, if you haven't checked out <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/uprintingcom-business-card-giveaway.html">UPrinting.com</a> giveaway yet, please join it. Can't beat 500 free business cards, can we?<br /><br />If you have any tips in acing the GRE, please share! I want to get the highest score I can and I'm studying my butt off right now :)<br /><br /><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a> P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

May Agenda

Hi everybody, Wow, I can't believe almost a week went by without me blogging! Unbelievable! If it were last year, I would have freaked o...

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UPrinting.com Business Card Giveaway

Hi everybody,<br /><br />Happy <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Cinco</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">de</span></span> Mayo! Life has been so busy for the last few days but that's not a bad thing. Today, I would like to announce a business card giveaway from <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">UPrinting</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">.com, an </span><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">internet</span></span> company that allows you to <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/">print online</a> many things from posters to brochures to business cards. For those of you who wants some free <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/Business-Cards.html">business cards</a> to promote your blog, business, or yourself, this is a great opportunity for you!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOLC4PF_1b8LgYZcpnlnlIUSeNgjUoR0rM5m1YDBVB5uAgZkHfclPwk53B0r5uSTSdapOkTvUKkiMO69fF-z87k4vv7Yk81agZMfZ2Ew-8oy0U8QmcCh3quv8xGZEFR3VrR5vJDHahFg/s1600/businesscards.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOLC4PF_1b8LgYZcpnlnlIUSeNgjUoR0rM5m1YDBVB5uAgZkHfclPwk53B0r5uSTSdapOkTvUKkiMO69fF-z87k4vv7Yk81agZMfZ2Ew-8oy0U8QmcCh3quv8xGZEFR3VrR5vJDHahFg/s400/businesscards.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br />According to <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">UPrinting</span></span>, their cards can be really useful: from the classic business card, to blogger cards, designer cards, and so much more. Business cards have evolved from the classic rectangular shape, to more edgy and modern square and slim cards. They offer them all!<br /><br />Giveaway Prize:<br /><ul><li>500 Business Cards for One (1) Winner</li><li>Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (slim card)</li><li>Paper: 14 pt gloss <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">cardstock</span></span>, 14 pt matte <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">cardstock</span></span> or 13 pt recycled <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">uncoated</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">cardstock</span></span></li><li>Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing</li><li>Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping</li><li>Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only</li></ul>To enter, simply leave a comment in the comment section of this entry with a valid email address so I can contact you in case you win. This contest continues until <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">5pm EST Thursday, May 13th, 2010</span>. Winner will be announced on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Friday, May 14th, 2010</span>. If you are a winner, please reply immediately so I can forward your information to <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">UPrinting</span></span>. Otherwise, a replacement winner will be chosen.<br /><br />This is a very generous offer, guys! You get 500 cards plus free shipping and other cool stuff like full color on both sides. So please join! I wish you all the best!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/?action=view&current=endcredit.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/shortylam/endcredit.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>P.S: If you like my blog, please <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MyMakeupBlog" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">subscribe to my feed.</a> Thanks a lot!

UPrinting.com Business Card Giveaway

Hi everybody, Happy Cinco de Mayo! Life has been so busy for the last few days but that's not a bad thing. Today, I would like to anno...

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