A Day at the Beach

Hi everyone,

About a month ago, I went to my mom's hometown in Mui Ne. Since it was such a short trip, I got to spend a little bit of time at the beach. With the help of Canon G12, I captured some pictures to share with you.

Artsy photo to belong in a calendar in the future :)
The power of the G12 is undeniable!

 More pictures ahead. So jump with me!

As it is a fishing town, you can see a lot of boats coming back from the sea.

More boats

Sleepy fishing town

Tiny little round boats called "thuyen thung"
(Thuyen= boat, thung= colander)

The two men hopped on the miniature boat...

...and paddled away.
The guy actually paddled very fast.

That's all for now. I'm traveling for a couple of days and an elf is going to help me posting up a few blog entries. Although I won't be able to comment until I come back, I appreciate your feedbacks.

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Belly at Large: Kitty Cousins

Hi everybody,

Since coming back to Vietnam, I miss my cat Belly dearly. To pacify my needs to hug him and call him with an assortment of nicknames, I have taken pictures of cats whenever I can. During my last trip to Ca Mau, I met this kitty at my relative's place. The cat doesn't have a name. He's just a cat.

At first, when he saw me, this cat ran away. He was a fast runner, too. However, the power of persuasion via the camera was a force to be reckoned. Soon enough, I got The Cat to pose for me:

At first, The Cat was shy. He looked at me and my camera with disbelief.

He wondered what that black thing was.

And then, he began to pose. But his career as a kitty model was cut short...

...since he began to act this way again.

 And nope, he's not a kitten. That's a fully grown Vietnamese cat. Over here, a cat is considered big if he/she is around 8 lbs. Belly the American cat weighs around 20! The Cat didn't meow at all and his fur pattern is interesting: white and stripped at the same time. I have never seen a cat like that before.

And guess whose tail this is:

Yup, it's an orange kitty cat. Actually, two of them currently live in the attic and they make awful lot of noises. Somehow, they managed to dig a hole in the wall. The material fell down while my dad was tying his shoes underneath. Luckily, he was sitting a couple of inches away from the wall. Otherwise, it could have been a nasty accident.

One interesting detail: cats in Vietnam meow differently than cats in the U.S. Maybe I was used to Belly's Southern meowing twang but his sounds are a lot softer and gentler. Cats over here just meow as if their lives depend on it.

So yes, Belly now has some kitty cousins. I wonder if they could understand each other. Belly needs to find those Rosetta Meow CDs and learn how to meow in Vietnamese :)

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Sunplay Whitening UV SPF 50 PA+++: an Effective Sunscreen

Hi everybody,

• Lesson #1: bring your own sunscreens when you travel.

• Lesson #2: sunscreens formulated for the cold climate may clog your pores when used in a much, much warmer climate.

I learned these lessons the hard way: not only did I not bring my #1 favorite physical sunblock with me to Vietnam, I also realized the chemical sunscreens I have irritate the heck out of my skin. On top of that, the extreme heat and humidity make things worse for me. A week into it and I was searching high and low for a reliable sunblock that (a) is not too moisturizing, (b) not irritating, and (c) contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Lady Luck smiled at me during my last shopping spree. My eagle eyes found Sunplay Whitening UV SPF 50 PA+++ after reading the ingredients, I was more than delighted: it contains both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, yay! After some hustling, I bought it and during my last trip to the beach, I got a chance to test it out.

Sunplay Whitening UV SPF 50 PA+++ by Rhoto-Mentholatum (a Japanese company.)

Wanna know what I think about this product? Jump!

First of all, although Sunplay has been available in the Vietnamese market for a long time, I did not have a chance to try it. I've heard a lot of nice things about Japanese sunblocks and sunscreens since a lot of my friends are fans of them. I know a few beauty bloggers swear by Shiseido sunscreens as they are light-weight and do not burn their delicate skins.

Unlike many other sunscreens I've tried, Sunplay is not a cream or a thick lotion. Instead, it is a watery milky white liquid. There is a small ball inside the bottle and you need to shake it before dispensing the liquid into your palm. It dries fast and does not leave a white cast, which is a bonus. After drying, it does not feel greasy, either.

I got a chance to really test it when I went to the beach a few weeks ago. I slathered on my body a thick layer of Sunplay before heading to the beach. It was intensely hot and I believe the heat index would be 10 or above. However, after I came back, my skin was only a shade darker and I did not get burn on the areas I applied sunscreens. Winning!

Ingredients

Although it is quite affordable (45,000VND or $2.25 USD), the bottle is quite small (30ml, 1 fl. oz.) A trip to the beach and I feel the lightness inside the bottle already. However, I realize a lot of skincare products are a lot smaller than their counterparts in the U.S. This leads me to believe it has to do with affordable pricing so people can buy. Also, a lot of products have "whitening" in their labels. While Sunplay is a sunscreen product, it does not have any whitening properties beside blocking the sun.

Would I buy it again? Of course! In fact, my bottle is running low and I am going to need a back-up pretty soon. I do hope this kind of sunscreen is available in the markets outside of Asian, as it is a very good product that does not aggravate my skin.

Disclaimer: I bought this product.

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Marie Louise Creme alpha-VC Facial Moisturizer for Mizumizushii Skin

Hi everyone,

Ever since I was a child, I wanted my skin to behave like Snow White's. When her mother wished to have a daughter "that had skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony," the three year-old me took them as beauty standards. Now, I can easily have tomato red lips by applying Revlon All Fired Up lipstick. And since my hair is already dark, I don't even need to dye it at all.

However, my skin really bothers me. Blame it on hormones, the environment, my diet, and whatever it is, I have tried very hard to achieve blemish-free skin. Now that I get to know my skin better, I've come up with ways to prevent outbursts of zits. On top of my list is to find a facial moisturizer that does not aggravate my condition.

Marie Louise Creme alpha-VC facial moisturizer came into my life through the PR channel. At first, I did not pay much attention to it but days went by, during the really cold winter months, this creme grew on me. While it did not turn me into Snow White, it did make my skin look very nice during the winter months.

Marie Louise Cream alpha-VC facial moisturizer ($109 USD, now on sale for $75 USD)

Wanna know what I think about it? Jump!
First of all, beside the stunningly beautiful jar and elegant yet simplistic packaging, this moisturizer did not appeal to me. To think of it, the Marie Louise creme alpha-VC facial moisturizer is fragrance-free and soft. I have touched so many facial moisturizers with the same texture that it did not wow me anymore.

However, once I washed my face and applied it for the first time, it reminded me of the "mizumizushii" skin status that many Japanese women crave for. In a much earlier post, I wrote about the importance of toners in facial care and mizumizushii was mentioned. To recap, it's a status where your skin is youthful, fresh, and supple. It's like the Asian version of Snow White's skin!

Don't let the plain white creme fool you. This stuff is mizumizushii material!

The people at MLC included a plastic spatula inside the box. It helps to pick up enough materials (2 pea-size amount) without contaminating the jar with your fingers. At first, I did not think the amount was sufficient. However, this creme is very moisturizing and when coupled with the alpha-VC moisturizing toner, my face was moist for the whole night.

Ingredient list

The ingredients contain butylene glycol, squalane, acetylated hyaluronate, soybean extract, and hydrogenated castor oil as moisturizing ingredients. On top of that, it also contains, vitamin C (hence, the VC) and alpha-arbutin to brighten up your skin. The ceramides also play a role in anti-aging. Since deep sea water is used in formulating this product, the skin is going to be replenished with trace minerals available there as well.

Until I went to Vietnam, the MLC creme and toner had been my night-time moisturizing routine. Since the vitamin C was stabilized, oxidation is not a major problem. Otherwise, I would prefer a bottle with an air-tight pump to house this product. As it is light-weight and highly moisturizing, the alpha-VC facial moisturizer is suitable for the wintertime. Using it with the toner improves the moisturizing power, which is desperately needed during those nights when the temperature drops below zero degree Celsius (or Fahrenheit when you live in some really cold places!) During the other months, using this creme by itself at night is more than sufficient.

Last but not least, yes, I know the price is very high and I would not recommend it to you unless it gives good result. Also, you only need a tiny amount to moisturize the whole face and neck. During the time I used it, I did not have any breakouts and my skin, which is usually very sensitive during the winter, was moist and somewhat glowing. I miss my mizumizushii status very much as my skin does not bode well in extreme heat at all. Until the weather is cold again, Marie Louise Creme alpha-VC facial moisturizer!

Please tell me what you think about this facial moisturizer. I'd love to read all of your comments.

Disclaimer: this product was provided for PR purposes. The opinions, however, are mine and reflected my own experience with the product. Skincare is personal: what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. However, my intention is to provide you the best information to help you decide if the product is suitable for you.

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Food in Vietnam, part 3: Food for the Masses

Hello there, dear readers!

Another day, another food post. Since I've accumulated enough pictures of food in various occasions, I decided to do another food post today. I've been enjoying too much good food since I came back and they are so delicious that sometimes I forgot to take pictures. I know, my bad. But I guarantee this post is packed with pictures of the yummiest food I remembered to take some snapshots. I hope y'all enjoy it!

First stop: nem nuong (grilled meat)
It is eaten with banh hoi (a kind of tiny noodles in sheet form), various herbs, lettuce, and sweet and sour fish sauce

Banh xeo (happy pancakes) made by moi :)

A close-up picture at the pancakes. I made it with shrimps and chicken :)
For more info about banh xeo, click here

 A lot more pictures of yummy food ahead. Jump!

Goi (Vietnamese-style salad)
This is not your typical Western salad with lettuce. The Vietnamese salad is made with shredded cabbage, onion(s), and carrots. Sometimes, it's even made with lotus stems, which is a delicacy. The protein part can be chicken, pork, and/or shrimps. My mom made this salad with shredded cabbage, carrots, and onions with shredded chicken.

The salad is eaten with prawn crackers (white things on the left): you take a cracker, add a bit of salad, and drizzle a bit of sweet and sour fish sauce. Then, take a bite. The crunchiness of the crackers and vegetables explodes in your mouth.
The crackers can be eaten by itself. It's a favorite snack for kids, albeit being quite fatty since the crackers are deep fried in oil.

Egg rolls with dipping sauce
I rolled and fried these bad boys myself!

Last but not least: tofu with lemon grass fillings for the vegans/vegetarians
Many food bloggers put this on their hit-list when they visit Vietnam. The lemon grass fragrance combined with hot chili peppers and fresh tofu make a killing combo. I simply can't have enough of this. 

Of all the pictures taken in this entry, the last one his the hardest to capture. It was mind boggling to make a block of tofu surrounded with lemon grass look appealing. Hello, it's a block of tofu! It cannot pose! The great pictures in this post are the result of the awesomeness of Canon G12. I can't praise this camera enough and I guess sooner or later, I need to write a post about it. Yes, the G12 is that awesome!

I hope you are happy with today's post. I sincerely apologize if it makes you hungry. Also, last but not least, Belly and I are very touched at the amount of support you guys had shown during our last post. We hope you will continue to support and pray for Japan.

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Belly at Large: Help Japan

Hello humans,

Did you miss me? It's been a long time and I miss you, too!
La mamarazzi said I looked emo in this picture but whatev, man, whatev. I was chillin' with my home girl :D

The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan left Belly so shaken that Belly has to refer to himself in third person like Elmo. You see, Belly hearts Japan. It is the homeland of "Naruto", Belly's most beloved manga series on Earth since Dragon Ball. Also, it is the home of some fabulous felines like Maru and the Ninja Cat. Belly was very thankful that Maru was not harm during these events.

After watching TV and reading news online and offline, Belly is very upset about this whole thing. Belly wants to help Japan very much but as a cat, Belly cannot haz no credit cards or cell phone. So human readers, please help Japan by donating money to the American Red Cross and/or the Salvation Army. Your money will bring reliefs to humans and kittens who are in need in Japan.

Below is the information:

• To donate to Red Cross: Send $10 by texting "Red Cross" to 90999. The amount will appear on your monthly bill. To donate online, go to www.RedCross.org or call the local chapter at 817-335-9137.
• To donate to the Salvation Army: Send $10 by texting "Japan" or "Quake" to 80888, or call 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769). To donate online, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

And now, for your entertainment, here are Maru and the Ninja Cat. They are probably Japan's best felines:





That's all for today. Belly would like to thank all of your for your help to Japan.

Domo arigato,
Belri neko-san

Marie Louise Cosmetics Cleansing Clear Gel Winner

Hi everyone,

And the result is in! We have a winner for the Marie Louise Cleansing Clear Gel giveaway! After tallying all the votes and entries, I conjured the power of selection via Random.Org to choose a winner. Before that, I had to check all the entries to make sure they are legitimate and thank you for the support, you guys!

As I mentioned in the giveaway post, we have extra credits and I am glad most of you took advantage of it. With the entry equals 1 credit and each extra-curricular activity earns you another one, potentially you could earn up to 5 entries. In fact, the winner did some extra credit activities and the number fell into one of them. So, in the future, if there are extra credits in My Makeup Blog's giveaways, I hope you are going to use them.

The result from Random. Org.
Number 9 is the winner!

Congratulations, Grace!
I'm going to email you for your mailing address. Please reply within 72 hours. Otherwise, I would have to pick a replacement winner.

Again, thank you, my readers, for your support and participations. Also, I would like to thank Marie Louise Cosmetics to provide the material for this giveaway. Let's hope for more giveaways in the future, shall we?

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Revlon Forbidden Lip Stain and Leslie Tyler Mint Cherry Lip Gloss Create a Vampy Lip Look

Hi everyone,

Sometimes, you have two perfectly fine lip products that you have never thought of combining together. In my case, I have Revlon Just Bitten lip stain and balm in Forbidden and Leslie Tyler lip gloss in Mint Cherry. Both are swell products by themselves until one day I decided to layer them. And BAM! I got a vampy lip look that probably makes Vampire Edward Louis look a whole lot sexier. Not like Brad Pitt needed it or anything. He was already muy sexy during the "Interview with the Vampire" era.

(Top-bottom): Revlon Just Bittlen lip stain and balm in Forbidden and Leslie Tyler lip gloss in Mint Cherry

 Wanna know what I think about these products and how to create a vampy lip look? Jump!

1. Revlon Lip stain and Balm in Forbidden

The felt tip looks a lot like that of CoverGirl Outlast lip stain

 At first, I wondered how Revlon created a moisturizing lip stain. I was disappointed to see the same design in CG Outlast lip stain, which came out before the stain craze began. The formula is quite similar to that in the CG stain, ie water-base product that's quite pigmented.

However, once I flipped to the other end and opened the small cap, a small white cap revealed. "Ah, the balm!" I said. While you can use the stain as-is, applying the balm on top will make it a lot more comfortable, yet not overly done. The balm adds some moisturizing properties without making it look too shiny.

The balm end
Simple solution that solves the drying problem a lot of lip stains have.

Revlon Forbidden lip stain on its own

and with the lip balm

Forbidden is a dark maroon that is very wearable during the night time. The stain lasted well into the night and I did not feel like wearing anything on my lips. Once the balm wore off, I simply applied more lip balm on top. Since it's a big crayon-type lip product, I prefer to use my own lip balm instead of carrying the whole tube of Just Bitten stain with me.

However, since it is not a long wearing product, this lip balm is going to fade from the center of your lips out to give a weird ring around your mouth. This only happened when I wore it waaay into the night. In order to remove it, I had to use Clinique Take the Day Off makeup remover as the staining power is quite strong.

2. Leslie Tyler Hint of Mint in Mint Cherry

Ingredients

This photo had no purpose other than showing the label and Canon G12's prowess
Back in the day, I had to take a bazillion photos just to have one shot with these two words legible. However, I only needed 1 shot with the G12 and look the blurred background. So bokeh-licious!

The wand

Lip swatch with Mint Cherry

 I really enjoy this lip balm and I wanted to do a write-up but life got in the way. As I was doing some research about Leslie Tyler Cosmetics, I found out the website is already suspended (!) Leslie Tyler Fink, the owner of the company, is a socialite who used to train Chanel makeup artists. According to many beauty sites and blogs, the price of the Hint of Mint lip glosses is $12 a pop, which is reasonable since the size of the lip gloss is quite generous.

Mint Cherry is a glossy red lip gloss that has a minty scent. It gives my lips a nice swell without the burning sensation thanks to spearmint as an ingredient. It is tasteless and according to many other blogs, Mint Cherry is the most pigmented color of the bunch.

And now, how to get a vampy lip look:

First, gently exfoliate your lips with honey-sugar-olive oil mix and rinse off with water. Then apply Forbidden lip stain on top of your freshly scrubbed lips. If you prefer a more moist feeling, feel free to apply the lip balm in the Just Bitten stain and balm duo. Then, finish it off with Mint Cherry (or any patent glossy red lip gloss that you have.)

And here is the result

Me sans makeup, except for the lip combo

If you decide to go with a dramatic lip look, please go easy on the eye makeup. A little bit of Stila Kitten on your lids, some eyeliner, and mascara are all you need.

This is my signature vampy lip look. How about yours? Please tell me in the comment section, ok?

Disclaimer: Revlon Just Bitten lip stain and balm in Forbidden was purchased by me for my own usage and reviewing purposes. Leslie Tyler Hint of Mint lip gloss in Mint Cherry was provided for PR purposes. The review, opinions, and tutorials are mine and came from my own experiences with these products.

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