Wordless Wednesday #48 | Pardon My Vanity...

The usual morning chaos.

Loving the vanity table behind me. :)

Wordless Wednesday #47 | Matchy-Matchy!

Spotlight | Amethyst Teardrop Earrings from SuperJeweler.

Oh, happy day! The San Antonio Spurs won Game 5, Manu Ginobili played a colossal game and showed the fans what he was made of, and as if these were not enough, my package from SuperJeweler came in the mail today!

A gift from Super Jeweler! :)

SuperJeweler is a New York-based online jewelry store, and sometime last month they sent me an email asking if I would be interested in doing a product review. Any girl who has an affinity for jewelries, accessories, and gemstones would agree, which I of course did.

Stephanie, the store's representative, gave me the liberty to choose which piece of jewelry I would like to receive. I chose this pair of Amethyst Teardrop Earrings for several reasons: 1) Purple is my favorite color; 2) Amethyst is one of my favorite stones (not my birthstone, though); 3) I have a penchant for dangling/chandelier earrings.

Purple is love! :)

Crafted in sterling silver with 18k gold overlay, these earrings are guaranteed to draw attention and spice up even the most basic wardrobe. The earrings, which feel light as a feather when worn, hang by an inch. The stone itself is pear-shaped and weighs 15 ct. It even comes with a Lifetime Guarantee, as with all pieces purchased from SuperJeweler.

Lifetime warranty.

These Amethyst Teardrop Earrings, by the way, retail elsewhere for around $399. At SuperJeweler, they're priced a hundred dollars less. (Do the math, that's $299.)

If you're from the Philippines and would like to order at SuperJeweler, you'd be glad to know that they offer free shipping to anywhere in the world, via the US Postal Service. My gift took about three weeks to arrive, so expect yours to arrive within the same time frame should you place an order at their website.

To end this post, here's how I rocked my Amethyst Teardrop Earrings.

No, I'm not wearing false eyelashes. 

Thankful that I inherited my dad's long neck.
I used to hate my neck when I was a kid, haha.

Disclosure: The Rebel Sweetheart received the aforementioned product for review purposes, and was not compensated in any form. Thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Spotlight | BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Eyeliner.

A good friend of mine came to me the other day, asking for help. She had to be all dolled up for her son's Commencement Exercises, and she needed a good, inexpensive eyeliner to use.  I asked her to try the BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Liner which can be bought at Watson's, and sells for Php 249 only.

BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Eyeliner.

Yesterday, my friend gave me a call to tell me that the product I recommended was a winner. For someone who's not too adept with liquid eyeliners, she didn't have much difficulty using the product. Plus it withstood the unbearable, unforgiving summer heat. Feedback like these make me really happy - all the more because I was able to help a friend in need. Haha, the dilemma of us women.

I can personally attest to the greatness of this product, as I've been using the BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Eyeliner for about a month now. I bought this on impulse during the last 3-Day Sale at SM San Pablo. It was on sale for Php 199 only and I just couldn't resist adding it to my shopping cart. But this baby turned out to be a really good find so I don't regret buying it on a whim. 

This one's in black, obviously. :)

Made in Australia. Not tested on animals. 

The BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Eyeliner comes in a sleek 4mL bottle. I can't remember if there are other shades available, but this one is Black. Its rubber tip applicator is stiff and very thin - great for creating fine, precise lines. It feels a bit scratchy the first time it comes contact with your eyelids, but you'll get used to the feel of it eventually.

Super thin!

One swipe of the BYS Eyeliner on the left, two swipes on the right.

Its formulation is dark and opaque, it's not runny, and it dries quickly, too. Best of all, it's as smudgeproof and waterproof as it claims to be, even without a primer on.

Rubbing it with water.

Rubbing it with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.

Rubbing it with Face of Australia Makeup Remover.

What I love:

- Sleek packaging.

- Highly pigmented, buildable color.

- Opaque formulation; not runny.

- Dries fast.

- Easy to use.

- Great for creating fine, precise lines.

- Smudgeproof, waterproof.

- Can last throughout the day.

- Cruelty-free.

- Non-irritating.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- Brush feels scratchy on the eyelids.

Of course, here's the customary Face of the Day. Witness the BYS Eyeliner in action, haha. :)

FACE: Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie Pore Cover, Benefit Erase Paste in Medium,
Missha Wrinkle Filler BB Cream #21.
EYES: Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown, BYS Smudgeproof, Waterproof Eyeliner in Black,
Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara in Black.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Lip & Cheek Tint in Cherry Pink.
LIPS: EOS Lip Balm in Vanilla Wonderland, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan.

Have you tried any BYS product? Let me know which ones are good so I can try them, too! :)

JeNu | Skincare Science for the Beautiful You.

Now that I'm in my thirties, I've become more meticulous when it comes to taking care of my skin. Aside from the usual cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, I also have an eye cream and a wrinkle reducing serum included in my skin care regimen. And with the proliferation of all sorts of anti-aging products in the market today - creams, serums, oral supplements, injections - it just goes to show that I'm not alone in the battle against time and age. It is definitely no secret that any woman would want to keep the beauty of her youth.

As a beauty blogger (and a woman with an innate vanity, lol), I'm always on the lookout for new cosmetics and skincare products to try. Just recently, I came across JeNu - a skincare system that combines ultrasound wave technology with a skin treatment that's so advanced, wrinkle reduction is guaranteed within two weeks.

The JeNu guarantee.

Here's how the product works: The JeNu wand creates hundreds of thousands of safe, gentle ultrasound waves per second. Apply a small amount of the Active-Youth Eye Treatment/Lip Serum directly onto the head of your JeNu wand and as you do, the ultrasound waves activate advanced microspheres found on the eye treatment/lip serum. You then move the JeNu wand head underneath and around the eye or lip area in overlapping circles, thereby infusing your skin with anti-aging ingredients.

The JeNu Active-Youth Skincare System is a set of three products - the ultrasound wand, the Active-Youth Eye Treatment, and the Active-Youth Lip Serum. The entire set sells for $249. It's a bit on the expensive side, but as we all know, beauty has a price.

JeNu Biosciences, the Seattle-based laboratory, stands behind the JeNu System and provides a 60-day money-back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty for both retail and online purchases. Not a bad deal for the equivocal consumer.

Growing old, of course, is inevitable. The hands of time are moving constantly, and there's no stopping it. But if we can age as gracefully as possible, then why not? I'm all for looking young and keeping wrinkles at bay.

Skincare for Men | Like Husband, Like Wife.

That the husband knows quite a handful about skincare for men isn't surprising. After all, he is married to a very vain woman. And the fact that he takes good care of his skin is one of the many things I love about him.

When it comes to grooming, expect the husband to be nitty gritty about it. Although his skin isn't as sensitive as mine, he's still very particular with the products that come in contact with his skin. For instance, he has a preference for anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners. He also uses lotion regularly, as his skin tends to become dry, especially during winter time. And yes, he almost always keeps a lip balm in handy.

But if there's one thing that the husband is most meticulous about, it has to be shaving. He actually has a ritual for it. First, he prepares his skin by washing his face with warm water. As most beauty junkies know, warm/hot water opens up the skin's pores, thus making it easier to cleanse the skin. The same principle applies to shaving, as warm water softens the beard, and makes it easier to shave.

Photo credit: The Art of Shaving

Next, he applies shaving cream to 'lift' the beard from the skin. This protects the skin from irritation and razor burn, thus resulting to a clean and comfortable shave. Then, he proceeds with shaving using his trusty razor that has been in his possession for years now.

Finally, he wraps up his shaving ritual by applying a special brand of after-shave oil. Made from organic virgin coconut oil, his choice of after-shave oil moisturizes the skin, and makes it refreshed and rejuvenated after having been shaved. And because his brand is alcohol-free, his skin does not dry out, become irritated, nor does he get nasty, ingrown hair.

I love it when my husband looks dapper, smells nice, and is clean shaven. He knows that very well too, so even if his shaving ritual adds up another ten minutes to his half-an-hour bathing time, I don't mind at all. For as long as I get to use the bathroom before he does!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for The Art of Shaving. However, thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

My Suesh + Kiss & Makeup Winnings!

Otherwise known as the blog post that almost took me six months to make. LOL.

I actually won these from Diane's Christmas giveaway, so imagine how long ago that was. Haha! The prize needed to be claimed at any of the Suesh branches, and the nearest from where I live is the Alabang Town Center outlet - which didn't open until February this year.

My best friend was supposed to do the claiming in my behalf, but being such a workaholic, doing night shifts, and even working overtime deterred him from going to ATC. I finally had the chance to claim 'em myself last month. Remember my out-of-town weekend with the sibs? From Cavite, we made a beeline to Alabang just so I could drop by Suesh.

And now, without further ado, I present to you my jaw-dropping, heart-stopping winnings! The first ever from a blog giveaway!

A 3-way LED Lighted Mirror, a 7-piece brush set, a makeup palette.

Woot! The lights work!

Valued at Php 8000 (more or less $200 USD), the LED Lighted Mirror comes with a lifetime warranty. In the event that the lights malfunction or the electricity gets busted, all I have to do is bring the case to any Suesh branch and I can have the lights replaced or repaired, free of charge!

Saving energy while staying pretty. :)

The 7-piece brush set, on the other hand, includes: a Powder Brush, a Stippling Brush, an Eyeshadow Brush, a Brow Brush, a Cheek Brush, a Concealer Brush, and a Lip Brush. The handles are made of birch wood, while the brushes are made from the finest animal hair.Valued at Php 2400 (around $55 USD), the set comes in a leather pouch with magnetic snap closures.

The softest brushes in my collection so far.

As for the makeup palette, the prize package originally stated a 'purple Suesh color palette'. The congenial staff of Suesh ATC, however, gave me the liberty to choose the palette that I want instead. I chose the Gold Beauty Angel palette, because I realized that I already have way too many purples and pinks in my makeup kit.

The Gold Beauty Angel palette.

The palette includes twelve eyeshadows, two blushes, a dual-ended applicator, and even a mirror. Green and Blue are the other variants of the Beauty Angel color palettes. The retail price at Suesh? Php 250 only!
Will post an FOTD using these babies soon.

Now allow me to give my thanks - again - to Suesh, for these wonderful, wonderful prizes. And of course, to lovely Ms. Diane, for hosting such a great giveaway. This makeup junkie is certainly overjoyed. Until the next! :)