Spotlight | Ever Bilena Matte Lipstick.

As you might recall, I received a box from Ever Bilena filled to the brim with their lipsticks. They were 19 in total, two of which I have already reviewed.

Today I'm showing you five more of those lipsticks, all from the Matte line.

Ever Bilena Matte Lipsticks.

The shades that I got are Viva, Off Beat Pink, Love that Red, Fierce Red, and Vamp Red. It's ironic how I got all these pinks and reds when these days I'm actually leaning towards peaches and nudes. Oh well. Like what I always say - a girl can never have too many lipsticks. Never ever. :)

From L-R: Viva, Off Beat Pink, Love that Red, Fierce Red, and Vamp Red. 

Here's how these lippies look like when swatched. The texture is creamy, and as you can see, the color pay-off is gorgeous. They're quite easy to apply, though you might experience a bit of tugging every once in awhile.

From L-R: Viva, Off Beat Pink, Love that Red, Fierce Red, and Vamp Red.

One thing I like about these lippies is their remarkable staying power. They stayed on my lips for about six hours, with a bit of eating and drinking.

Now here's how they look like when worn.

Viva when worn.

Viva is a light pink shade that's great for everyday wear. The color looks very natural with just one or two swipes, but you can build up the color if you want to achieve a brighter, more noticeable shade of pink on your lips.

Viva on my lips.

Off Beat Pink, on the other hand, is a lovely, blue-based shade of pink. This one's my most favorite among the five EB Matte lipsticks that I got.

Off Beat Pink when worn.

This shade bears semblance to NYX's Milan, one of my favorites from the brand's Soft Matte Lip Cream line. 

Off Beat Pink on my lips.

Love that Red is a beautiful, neutral shade of red.

Love That Red when worn.

This one's my favorite among the red lipsticks that I received. It's a pretty good dupe for MAC's Ruby Woo, too!

Love That Red on my lips.

Meanwhile, Fierce Red and Vamp Red are both darker and deeper shades of red.

Fierce Red when worn.

Fierce Red on my lips.

Both of them look very much alike, I'm actually having a hard time distinguishing one from the other in the photos, haha!

Vamp Red when worn.

Vamp Red on my lips.

What I love:

- Highly pigmented.

- Buildable color.

- Great staying power.

- Different shades to choose from.

- Widely available.

- Affordable price.

For only Php 165 a pop, these Ever Bilena Matte Lipsticks are a steal! 

What you might not like:

- Can be drying at times, so I suggest you wear a lip balm before applying the lipstick.

- The tube isn't quite sturdy. There's danger in breaking the lipstick if twisted carelessly.

Have you tried Ever Bilena's Matte Lipstick before? What's your favorite shade?

Happy Chuseok Shopping at WishTrend!

It's Chuseok time once again! One of the most popular holidays in Korea, Chuseok (추석) is the equivalent of Thanksgiving in Western countries. It's that time of the year when Koreans reunite with their families, share food, and give thanks to their ancestors for the abundant harvest.

Little man in Hanbok (Korean traditional clothes).

This Korean holiday is usually observed for three days, but this year, Chuseok will take place from September 7 until September 10 - one day longer than the standard 3-day holiday. During Chuseok, Koreans usually travel back to their respective hometowns, spend time with their elders, hold memorial services for their departed family members, and visit ancestral graves.

Hence, most stores and offices are closed during this period to give employees a chance to observe the Chuseok holiday. For online shoppers, however, Chuseok usually means sale events and free gifts.

WishTrend, for instance, is giving away a free gift in celebration of the Chuseok holiday. An online shopping hub of beauty products, WishTrend brings Korean brands such as Tony Moly, Missha, Skin79, ElishaCoy, Klairs, etc. to the global market by means of e-commerce.

Customers who make a purchase during the period of September 7 - September 10 will receive Klair's Rich Moist Facial Soap as a Thanksgiving holiday gift.

Be Clean Natural Soap from Klairs.

Made with calamine and yerba mate, the Rich Moist Facial Soap provides excellent soothing effects on sensitive skin. It also contains argan oil, one of nature's best antioxidants, and almond oil, known for its moisturizing properties.

Rich Moist Facial Soap.

Part of Klair's all-new Be Clean Natural Soap line, the Rich Moist Facial Soap is recommended for those with dry, troubled, and sensitive skin. Priced at $99, shoppers can get this product free by using the code 'WISHHOLI' upon checkout.

WishTrend ships worldwide, and even offers free standard shipping for orders over $69. Delivery time is from 3-15 business days, depending on the country of destination. 

And because I'm a big fan of Korean beauty brands, I'm doing a bit of shopping at WishTrend myself. Of course, I'll be claiming my free gift as well. :)

Enjoy the Chuseok holiday, and to all my Korean friends, 추석 잘 보 내 새요Chuseok jal bo nae sae yo! :)

Brandon Vera set for One FC debut in Manila.

For the first time in his mixed martial arts career, Filipino-American Brandon Vera will get a chance to fight in Manila as he makes his debut in One FC. This was announced yesterday, September 3, at the press conference held at the NBA Cafe in Taguig City. Joining Brandon Vera in the press conference was Rich Franklin, former UFC Middleweight Champion and now Vice President of One FC.

Brandon Vera, looking very down-to-earth in a pair of 'tsinelas'. :)

NBA Cafe, Manila.

"I am so excited to compete in Manila for the first time for ONE FC,” said Brandon Vera, who used to fight with the UFC. “The fans in the Philippines have been behind me my entire career, and I want to repay their faith by giving them an exciting performance and bringing my best into the ONE FC cage for a victorious debut this December."

Brandon Vera's debut happens on December 5, 2014 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The event, dubbed as 'One FC 22: Warrior's Way', will be One FC's fifth card in the Philippines. Vera will be fighting at 265 pounds (heavyweight division) for the first time in his mixed martial arts career. His opponent for the said event has yet to be announced.

Whipped out his phone...

Brandon Vera parted ways with the UFC last June, and signed with One FC in July. He said the opportunity to fight in front of his hometown crowd (ergo, Manila) was the decisive force in signing with One FC.

"Pusong Pinoy talaga ako," said Vera, who surprised the crowd with his proficiency in Tagalog, albeit with a slang."Nung lumalaki ako, sinusubuan ako ng lola ko ng nakakamay, tanggal ang sapatos ganyan... Filipino talaga ako." (I'm a Filipino by heart. Growing up, my grandmother would feed me using her hands. We'd take off our shoes inside the house... I'm a real Filipino.)

... for a groufie with Rich Franklin!

Known for his aggressive Muay Thai style and skills in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (he holds a black belt, fyi), Brandon Vera had a combined record of 8-7, 1 no-contest in his 9-year stint in the UFC. He kicked off his UFC career with a 4-0 run, which included a 69-second destruction of ex-champion Frank Mir.  

The Truth and The Ace.

Vera, who once described his MMA career as 'peaks and valleys' said that his fight in Manila this December 'will be the highest peak ever'. Winning his first ever match in One FC will make Vera the inaugural One FC Heavyweight Champion.

Mark your calendars!

“It’s a dream to become a champion in this organization," Vera stated. "From the very start of my career, I never handpicked my opponents I will fight anyone just to be the first One FC heavyweight champion and reign as long as possible."

Wordless Wednesday #98 | Happy Grandparents Day!

Spotlight | Missha Super Aqua Lifting Eye Cream.

That I'm obsessed with eye creams is no secret. I'm almost always on the lookout for good eye creams, as I have a perennial problem with dark circles and sunken eyes. And more often than not, I gravitate towards Asian eye cream/skincare brands as they tend to work better on my skin compared to brands from the West. These days, I'm using a not-so-new product from one of my favorite Korean cosmetics brands, Missha.

Missha Super Aqua.

Called the Super Aqua Lifting Eye Cream, this product is an 'advanced, mild, oil-free and hydrating formula packed with rich ingredients that target eye area concerns'. This eye cream is packed with active water ingredients, mango seed butter, camellia extract, phyto-collagen, and argireline - a cosmetic ingredient known for its anti-wrinkle properties.

Lifting Eye Cream.

This product also contains antioxidants that can protect the skin from free radicals, as well as sugar elements that can improve the skin’s moisture retention capability.

Product description at the back of the box.

Contains active water ingredients.

The Super Aqua Lifting Eye Cream has a light, viscous texture that's easily absorbed and does not feel heavy on the skin. This product spreads quite well that a tiny blob (such as the one in the photo) would be enough for the area around your eyes. 

Product swatch.

Squeeze tube.

I've been using the Super Aqua Lifting Eye Cream for a little over a month now, and I love the 'revitalizing effect' of this product on my skin. My eyes no longer look sunken even on days when I've had less than eight hours of sleep. And because my undereyes aren't as dark as it used to be, I need not slather my skin with concealer either. No more tired-looking eyes, no more dark and ghastly undereyes, and I get to save on concealer, too. Not bad, right? 

The Super Aqua Lifting Eye Cream comes in a 30 mL squeeze tube and sells for 17800 Korean won. That's around $17 or Php700+ when converted. Not sure if this item is available in Missha branches here in the Philippines, as I got this one from the Missha store in Myeongdong. Courtesy of my husband, of course. :)

Have you tried this product before? What eye cream/s work best for you? Let me know, I might give them a try one of these days, too. :)