I Kiss My Life

I kiss my life everyday. :)

Took The BB Plunge!

No, I did not get a blackberry! :)

I've been reading positive review and raves about BB creams for a few years  now (yes years! I'm so late in my interest!), and finally I started getting curious. It has more to do with my quest to find a good [temporary] replacement for my depleted sunblock. So I did a lot of research and found out that one of the best ones out there is the one from Missha.

For the benefit of those who don't know what BB creams are, BB stands for Blemish Balm. This is the  alleged "beauty secret" of flawless Korean stars which I'm not buying because I'm pretty sure they were born with their light flawless skin, but a lot of people did and thus the BB craze was born. It's been said that the formula came from German dermatologists who prescribed it to post laser patients because it has healing, soothing, and skin-regenerating properties while providing a good coverage for post laser scars and redness.

In a nutshell, the BB cream claims to be an "all-in-one" beauty product. It is a tinted moisturizer, sunblock, anti-wrinkle, skin-lightening cream with healing properties to soften, smoothen, and refine skin while concealing all types of pigmentation, discoloration, acne and other blemishes.  The coverage is said to be light enough so it won't clog pores but obvious enough to cover what is needed. Sounds too good to be true, I know, but it really got me intrigued.

I'm not a big make up person but I like to look presentable when I go out and usually with my three kids, I don't have the luxury of time to put on make up (and even just powder my nose) before leaving. :( Which is why I was all for the idea of skipping the application of other skin products and makeup in favor of this BB cream.

Incidentally, while I was in Mirdif City Center a few weeks ago, I saw a newly opened Missha shop so I decided to put their available BB creams to test.

Well, I only ended up trying two because I didn't realize there was a LOT to choose from. 

I chose the Missha M Perfect Cover B.B. Cream SPF 42 PA+++ 21 Light Beige, 1.69oz, 50ml over the MISSHA M upgraded BB B.B. Cream- MATTE VITA BB CREAM SPF20 because of the higher Spf coverage although I felt that the latter was more moisturizing for my skin. 

Since I very rarely step out of our flat, I think I've only tried this product five times since I bought it three weeks ago, which is why I can't really say for sure if it has caused any improvement in my skin. However, I did find it easy to use and I like that it's so light that it doesn't look and feel like I have any makeup/powder on. It gave my skin a light, matte finish which I'm not used to because I prefer a more dewy look (which is normally what I get when I forget to put powder on). What I loved most is that I didn't have to "retouch" (I always forget to do that anyway) anytime during the day and I came home every time with skin coverage that looked exactly like it did 8-10 hours before.

Overall, I'm happy with this beauty product and I'm planning to use it as my everyday "on-the-go" regimen. I'll put my Pigeon face powder, which I've been using since I was in college and came highly recommended by my dermatologist, to a rest for now and see how it goes.

Sometimes All You Want Is A Black Bag

I am currently on a purse ban but I recently had an alarming realization that I have NO (read: none) everyday black bag. I've been so into acquiring bags of color (aka statement bags) that I neglected to focus on the basics. Yes, this is an issue of national security, at least in my shallow little world it is. :p

My bag wish list is quite long and ambitious and I have accepted that I will not be able to acquire them all in this lifetime, but I don't mind landing among the stars as I reach for the moon, no not at all.

So now I'm on a hunt for a perfect everyday workhorse bag that I can take anywhere, put on the floor, wear with anything, easily clean, fit our entire flat (except the sink and toilet bowls of course) and can last me for the next five years. In short, I need a durable classic black  leather bag.

This is what I've been dreaming of for the past three days. A simple black bag has never looked so good.

Givenchy Nightingale in Calfskin via Luisaviaroma

Givenchy Nightingale in Lambskin via Luisaviaroma

Both equally gorgeous. I'm confused as to which one I like better. I love everything about this bag! The simplicity and versatility, the subtle elegance, the combined sophistication and touch of masculinity, and the fact that it will go with everything in my closet!

Ashley Olsen carrying a Nightingale in Maxi (the size I'm looking for!)

ack! I loveee!

I swear it has nothing to do with the fact that it's been seen in the arms of every other Hollywood celebrity, I'm really all for the classic design and sumptuous black leather!

I may be a little late into the Nightingale hype, as it was an "it" bag back around 2009-ish, but the fact that I still love it even after all the novelty wore off means a lot! 

I super love the shoulder strap.

Although I fear that getting the maxi might be too big for my 5"1 frame.

If I find the exact one that I want, I swear this will be my LAST bag for 2011. Believe me.

Want It Wednesday.

I love shoes. I have more than I can keep track of although I always end up wearing a few favorites over & over again. I adore sexy shoes, stilettos and sky high platforms, but I never really understood shoe porn until Christian Louboutin.

I very rarely go out and when I do, it's not to attend events or parties that require me to wear shoes such as the ones I have been eyeing, so I simply cannot justify purchasing a pair of Louboutins. That hasn't stopped me from dreaming and lusting over them for months now.

Very Prive in Black

Shoe.Porn.

Hyper Prive in Nude

I wonder if I tell my husband I'm wearing them with lingerie will be enough justification?

I Should.

2:30 AM Snack

and just the way I like my Coca Cola. :)

My Mommy Finds: Thudguard

These Thudguard Baby Protective Safety Helmet have been pretty popular lately. These were invented by a Scottish mom "to help absorb and reduce the impact of head injuries during a fall or collision".

My husband actually discovered them first a little over a year ago, when our 10-month-old Carlos Chace started walking and getting into "accidents". He wanted to get Carlos one but I wanted to get it only in blue (shallow decision, we should have gotten it for him even if it was in pink), so we waited for a long time because the color was always out of stock until eventually we forgot about it.

The night she first got her Thudguard.

So when our little girl started to crawl around the place, Art decided we should get her that thudguard asap. At that time, it was out of stock in amazon so luckily we found a UK based seller in ebay who retails this baby helmet and had it delivered to my husband via APO and our little girl got it before she turned 7 months old.

Let's just say our little girl wasn't too thrilled with it but I really wanted to get her used to wearing it even only until she masters her first few steps. She'd usually be fussy for a while when we put it on but eventually she did stop minding having it on her head.

I've read reviews where some parents think this is a unnecessary baby product, but being a mother of three very active kids with no help is not easy, so I find it to be a brilliant product. I mean, how many sets of hands and eyes does a mom have anyway? As much as I'd like to keep an eye on the kids, especially the little one, 24/7, I just can't possibly do so.

 

I don't leave Amber without adult supervision but she does like playing with her brothers, and our two-year-old can sometimes be rough with her. Other times, she falls victim of her brothers' rough housing with each other and having the helmet on has been very helpful so far.

Aside from the peace of mind it gives me, there are other things to love about this helmet: (1) It's made of lightweight material so it's not heavy on the baby's head. (2) You have to admit it's pretty adorable especially with the little ears on top. (3) It's easy for the parents to put on but not that easy for the little one to take off. (4) It's got little those little holes for ventilation (not just design).

Although, they might want to work a little bit more on improving the ventilation of this helmet. I haven't been letting Amber, who is now 9 months old, wear it much lately because the the summer heat in Dubai is unbearable! Even with our air conditioning on full blast, her head still gets drenched in sweat when she's wearing it. The usually smiley little boo becomes all red and cranky because of the heat and I can imagine how uncomfortable it must be for her.

Some people may find the price a little too steep for just a helmet but I personally think it's worth every penny and I don't regret having purchased it. In fact, I recommend it to all the parents out there whose babies are starting to get more mobile. Of course the helmet won't take the place of adult supervision but it will save you time hovering over your little one so you can do other *ehem* important things like going on facebook, or surfing, or blogging, while you have your other eye on your baby. Plus, it gives you peace of mind, which is something you can't put a price tag on.

In the Philippines, you may order them through Mompreneur.