Pucker Up! | Avon Ultra Color Lipstick in Dream Fuchsia.

Last week, I dropped by the local Avon outlet to get a few items for my sister-in-law. I really had no plans of buying anything for myself that time. But when I chanced upon this vivid shade of fuchsia in the makeup aisle, I just could not resist. And so I went ahead and bought a new lipstick for myself. Lol.

The shade I'm talking about is Dream Fuchsia, from the Ultra Color Lipstick line. It's the latest addition to Avon's ever-growing line of lipsticks.

Dream Fuchsia, 3.5 grams.

Now what's so special about this new line, you may ask? Avon's Ultra Color Lipsticks boast of new shades, new formulation, and new packaging. Here's how the lipstick looks like with the seal intact.

Looking sleek. :)

There's a window at the top, which allows you to see the shade of your lipstick. Of course, you can always refer to the bottom part, where the name/shade of the lipstick is written.

Peek-a-boo, I see you.

 Here's how Dream Fuchsia looks like in actual.

I fell in love with the color at first sight. :)

It's purplish-pink with blue undertones and super fine shimmers in it. And for a lipstick with sheer finish, this one has a nice wash of color. It's not exactly the kind of lipstick that I would wear during the day while taking my son to school, but this one would be perfect for evening parties (or dates with the husband, lol) as the color is pretty vivid.

See the tiny sparkles?

Like all the other shades in the Ultra Color Lipstick collection, this product comes equipped with the 'True Color Technology' - the color you see on the lipstick is the same color you'll get on your lips. The new formula also includes lip-nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, arctic berry, omega oil, and vitamin E that moisturizes the lips and makes it smooth and supple. Oh, and did I mention this product is SPF15? :)

And now here's how Dream Fuchsia looks like when swatched, and worn.

True Color, all right.

Love love love this shade of purplish pink! :)

As for the price, it's currently being sold for Php 249 a pop. (Regular price is Php 379.) I'm an Avon lady so I actually got this for 25% less.

What I love:

- Sleek packaging.

- For a sheer lipstick, it's highly-pigmented.

- Beautiful purple-pink shade.

- Glides on your lips like a dream.

- Moisturizes the lips.

- Stays on the lips for about 4-5 hours.

- Has a subtle, sweet scent.

- SPF15. 

What you might not like:

- It's not exactly a 'daytime lipstick'.

Have you tried this lipstick, or any other shade from the Ultra Color line? Let me know what you think. :)

Spotlight | Celeteque Radiance Body Cream.

If there's one skincare product that I can't live without, it's lotion. I'm a self-confessed lotion addict. I love 'em so much to the point that I have all sorts of brands and scents lined up in my dresser, ready for my disposal.

And so when I chanced upon the Celeteque Radiance Body Cream in the Sample Room inventory, I got a sample right away without even thinking twice. Especially after seeing that the sample you'll be getting is actually a full-sized product.

Celeteque Radiance Body Cream.

So here, my dear readers, is the 200 mL bottle of the Celeteque Radiance Body Cream. Actual retail price is Php 270, and they're available at most drugstores and supermarkets.

Multi-Bright Complex for fairer skin!

And as per product description, this product contains MultiBright Complex - 'a revolutionary fusion of seven plant extracts that reduces melanin to help achieve fairer and even-toned skin'. The seven plant extracts refer to the following: mallow, peppermint, cowslip, lady's mantle, fluellen, balm mint, and yarrow. I listed them down just in case any of you are allergic to the plants mentioned above. As for me, my sensitive skin had no allergic reactions to this product.

Comes in an easy-to-squeeze bottle.

I still can't attest to the whitening properties of this product, as I've been using this for barely a week. I'll keep you all posted for any significant changes in my skin tone. But for now, I'm really loving this product's moisturizing properties - it makes your skin smooth and supple, and gives it a healthy, radiant glow.

Squeeze it, baby!

For a body cream, this product's texture is actually very light and silky, and is easily absorbed by the skin. It's non-greasy, and doesn't feel icky even when you're wearing it on a hot and humid day. Plus points for the Radiance Body Cream's sun protection factor (SPF15).

Light and non-greasy. :)

This product is unscented (or at least that's what my olfactory nerves tell me) which is okay with me, though I must admit I prefer my lotions scented.

What I love:

- Leaves the skin smooth and supple.

- Makes the skin radiant and glowing.

- SPF 15.

- Texture is light and non-greasy.

- Easily absorbed by the skin.

- Hypoallergenic.

- Comes in a sleek, easy-to-squeeze bottle.

- Affordable price.

- Available at local drugstores and supermarkets.

What you might not like:

- None that I can think of. :)

From the looks of it, this product will easily make its way to my list of favorite lotions. How about you, what's your favorite lotion? :)

UFC Fight Night | Chael Sonnen for the win!

Talk like a gangster. Fight like a boss. Win like a champion.
That's exactly what Chael Sonnen did in UFC Fight Night 26, when he beat Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua with a first round submission.

In front of more than 12,000 fans in Boston's TD Garden, Sonnen proved that there's more to his trash-talking and unpredictable shticks. Using his impressive wrestling skills, he took Rua down early on in the round, and they pretty much stayed on the mat the entire time.

Rua, a former light heavyweight champion, managed to defend himself and got back on his feet. And just when you thought the odds have turned in favor of the Brazilian, the American Gangster got a standing guillotine, brought it down, and locked it tight. And at 4:47 of the first round, Rua (who happens to be a black belter in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), tapped out.

Photo credit: Jared Wickerham / Zuffa LLC

After the fight, Sonnen dedicated his win to his grandmother, to his friend Alaina, and to all cancer patients and survivors. Of course, no interview would be complete without his witty remarks, and this time he picked on another Brazilian. "Wanderlei Silva. 6 feet tall and 205 pounds, but until I met you, I didn't know they could stack crap that high," said Sonnen, quipping a line from Full Metal Jacket.

He was a bit 'tamer' however, in the post-fight press conference. When asked how he felt about snapping his two-fight losing streak, Sonnen answered, "It feels good because it's Shogun."

Check out the pink ribbon!
Originally posted on my Instagram. :)

He went on by saying, "The guy's a former world champion. He's going to be in the Hall of Fame. He's beaten [Chuck] Liddell. He's beaten Forrest Griffin. He's beaten [Lyoto] Machida. He's beaten all these guys. He's beaten guys I've known and looked up to, from the Kevin Randlemans and Mark Colemans of the world. So yeah, it feels good."

And boy, do I feel good.
And why not? I am perhaps the biggest Chael Sonnen fan in this country, if not the world. So yeah, my happiness is beyond the stars.

Congrats Chael Sonnen!
And to all the other winners in UFC Fight Night 26 - Travis Browne, Urijah Faber, Matt Brown - kudos to you, too! You've all made me a happy fangirl. :)

Foodie Goodie | Orange Ginger Chicken.

It's been awhile since I last posted in the 'Foodie Goodie' section of my blog - mostly because I'm on a diet, and lately I don't eat much. If you're following me on Twitter or Instagram, then perhaps you've seen the hashtag #HCGDiet in some of my posts. That's because I'm doing the HCG Program, whose diet protocol includes the intake of HCG drops plus VLCD (very low calorie diet). And by low, I mean just 500 calories a day.

Sounds like a feat? Not really. Although I must admit, at first I thought I wouldn't be able to survive with this diet program. No sweets, no junk food, no cola, no rice - WTF?! But now I'm on Day 22 of the program, and very happy with the results so far.

A few days ago, I posted an Instagram photo of the Orange Ginger Chicken dish that I cooked. Some of my friends and readers asked me to post the recipe, just so they'll have an idea of the kinds of food that they can eat while doing the HCG Diet. Request granted, ladies!

Orange Ginger Chicken

Ingredients:

100 grams chicken breast, cut into chunks

1 medium-sized orange, quartered

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp basil

1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, peeled and minced

juice of half a lemon

black pepper

Procedure:
1. Preheat pan over medium heat.
2. Sprinkle chicken with pepper.
3. Add chicken to pan and stir fry until brown on all sides, about 5-10 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook for a minute.
5. Squeeze juice of orange quarters over chicken.
6. Peel and separate orange into sections.
7. Add orange sections, ginger, lemon juice, and basil. Stir well.
8. Cover and simmer for about 20-30 minutes.

Wanna know more about the HCG Diet Program? Like The Slim Firm on Facebook or follow them on Instagram. :)

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Spotlight | Rimmel Glam'Eyes Trio Eyeshadow in Fever.

When my aunt, uncle, and cousins came home last June for a quick vacation, one of the things I received as 'pasalubong' was the Rimmel Glam'Eyes Trio Eyeshadow palette. It's actually a gift from my favorite cousin Jeanne, who shares with me the same love for makeup and beauty products. (And KPop and Korean dramas, too. Haha!)

Rimmel Glam Eyes Trio Eyeshadow in 740 Fever.

My cousin knows purple is my favorite color, so it's not surprising that she chose the 740 Fever variant for me. It's a trio of purple shades - grape, lilac, and a lavender so pale it's almost white. And like most drugstore brands, this eyeshadow palette comes in a plastic pan. I find the packaging pretty chic (must be the triangles, lol) and quite sturdy, considering they're made of plastic.

Purple is love! :)

The Glam'Eyes Trio Eyeshadow, as per the Rimmel website, is a collection 'inspired by the sophistication of the London fashion scene.'  There are several colors available in the Glam'Eyes line, each shade combination aiming to complement a specific eye color. This purple palette, for instance, complements green eyes the best. Well, my eyes ain't green, but they work for me nonetheless. Haha!

Get the London look!

Here's how the eyeshadows look like when swatched. They're not as pigmented as I expected them to be, although the colors do pop out when you use them wet. I love the hint of sparkles in these eyeshadows, though I find the texture a tad chalky. Staying power is okay - at least five to six hours with a primer on.

From L-R: Shade #1, Shade #2, Shade #3.

What I love:

- Chic packaging.

- Color payoff is great when worn wet.

- Easy to blend and apply.

- Long-wearing.

- No allergic reactions.

- Not tested on animals.

- Affordable price. (They sell for $4.99 in the US.)

What you might not like:

- Texture is a bit chalky.

- Pigmentation is so-so if you're wearing them dry.

Wearing them purples dry! :)
FACE: Majolica Majorca Skin Pore Lingerie Cover,
Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream,
Benefir Erase Paste in Medium
Krave Luxurious Perfection in French Latte.
EYES: Rimmel Glam'Eyes Trio in Fever,
BYS Waterproof Eyeliner in Black,
Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara.
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Tint in Cherry Pink.
LIPS: EOS Lip Balm in Vanilla Nonsense,
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa.

I actually have another Rimmel eyeshadow palette that needs to be opened. They're a trio of blues though, and you know I have a love-hate relationship with blue eyeshadow. I think I need to muster up some courage before I give the blue ones a try. Lol!