Black Sweet: October 2009

Are You A Winner? Today is the Last Day to Enter!

Face Primer Review: L'oreal True Match Smooth Up Makeup Base

Win Lock and Mane Mad Men Money!

Allure Magazine and Sephora Show Love For Whitney Port's New Collection

SAMPAR Skin Quenching Mist

Prove It! RoC Multi Correxion Skin Perfecting System

The Claims: RoC, one of the anti-aging leaders in French skin care, recently launched a new skincare system that promises fewer lines and wrinkles, a more even tone and texture, visibly reduced photo damage and more radiant skin, all within two weeks. This three-part system contains products only available in this kit. They include patent-pending ingredients that showed very quick results in clinical trials.This kit includes a Daily Perfecting Cleanser, a combination cleanser and scrub that claims to allow the unique ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin. It also contains a Daily Perfecting Creme with a UVA/UVB SPF 30 sunscreen. This daily moisturizer contains active soy proteins and silk pearls that allow light to bounce off of the skin, giving the appearance of more radiant, younger looking skin. The third component is an Intensive Night Concentrate for Face and Eyes, which has Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid to help plump and smooth the skin. These three items are only available in this kit. RoC's Multi-Correxion Skin Perfecting System is available in drugstores and Ultas everywhere and retails for $49.99.The Test:I tested this RoC kit for two weeks. Normally, before I review a skin care line, I use the products for 4-6 weeks to try to get a truer result. However, RoC themselves put the restrictions on my test, so I will play by their rules. I used the cleanser twice a day and the day creme during the day and the night creme each night.I have to say that RoC's retinol products are some of the best you can buy at the drugstore and are always budget friendly. They are packaged in a way that keeps the ingredients stable, which I love. I do find a little fault that they are marketing a night creme as a two in one product for both eyes and face. Unless you have a serious under eye problem, anyone who appreciates the idea of not wasting money would tell you to use whatever you use on your face on your eyes as well. Tons of companies try to sell almost identical creams for the face and eye area separately, so maybe I should be giving them kudos for acknowledging you can use the same product for both?I really liked the cleanser. I like how it contains exfoliating little scrubby doodads that aren't rough, but aren't ridiculously gentle. It felt like my skin got really clean and was left a little smoother after each wash.The day creme felt very rich, without feeling greasy or heavy and my skin seemed to drink in the moisture. The photo stable broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection is very nice as well.The night creme felt very smooth and dried down to a satiny finish. I woke up to refreshed looking skin and did not experience a single breakout when using this kit.But the question is, did it noticeably improve my skin in two weeks? I have to say that I don't think many products will change your skin in two weeks. Perhaps a few acne treatments might, but to fade photo damage or change the texture of your skin, two weeks isn't very much time. This is a very nice skin system and if you have a lot of fine lines, I believe the retinol in this product will be helpful in plumping the skin to reduce the appearance of those lines.I have quite a bit of photo damage. I don't think this product lightened my darker sunspots noticeably. But I do think that with continued use, the lighter sunspots will continue to get lighter.The results:If you expect this kit to give you a porcelain complexion in two weeks, you aren't going to get it (and are slightly delusional if you believe you could). However, this is an effective kit for the money, very budget-friendly. With time, you will definitely see results. I really liked how the Daily Perfecting Creme looked on my skin and I loved how it felt. I'm not sure about noticing big changes within two weeks, but within several weeks, the mirror won't let you down, provided your expectations are realistic.Did RoC Prove It in my opinion? This kit may not give you all new skin in two weeks, but it does contain effective ingredients that will work, if given slightly more time than two weeks. It is definitely worth checking out if anti-aging products are on your radar. Even better, save $10 on the system by clicking here.Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

All Target Stores to Carry e.l.f. Cosmetics Nov. 1

by guest blogger, Anne Houseman, of Beauty Xpose.

At BeautyXpose, we adore a good bargain, which is why we’ve been enamored by e.l.f. cosmetics since we learned about the cosmetic line that bestows beauty buys for as little as a buck. After all, prices like that let us try out new colors and textures to our heart’s content without fear of going broke. Not to mention, the quality of the products ain’t too shabby either (we swear the brushes are as good as a top-notch brand rhyming with “fleflora”).

Until recently, our options for snatching up these budget beauty items were to buy them online (but who can stand the anticipation before they arrive!) or to scour the bins at the local Target in the hopes of perhaps finding one or two products stashed away. Now, there’s no more needless waiting (or pesky shipping charges), since e.l.f. products will be available in every Target store by November 1.

To launch, Target will carry a range of e.l.f. products priced at $1, $3, $5 and $10, encased in sleek black packaging. So which product is right for you? Since they’re all so inexpensive (even the “pricey” deluxe kits found online are only $25), we’ve bought and sampled our way through a wide variety of e.l.f. products, and we keep coming back for more. When you head out to Target this November, try picking up a few of our recent e.l.f. favorites for yourself and a friend (did we mention they’re perfect for stocking stuffers?).

Mineral Eye Shadow in Confidence ($3) — When e.l.f. sent this complimentary shadow for us to review, we were ecstatic, since we hadn’t yet tried the brand’s mineral products. This shadow glides on easily and it didn’t crease by the end of the day like some other products. The glimmering brown flecks create a subtle shimmer that’s perfect for day or night — a true classic!

Plumping Lip Glaze in Baby Doll ($1) — We bought this pretty little plumper a few months back, and it’s still going strong. One end of the tube features the milky/clear gloss packed with all the plumping action, and the other end has the color, which is a demure light pink with a slight shimmer. While it’s not going to make your lips look like Angelina Jolie’s, this gloss is still admirable, and it doesn’t sting too much.

Total Face Brush ($1) — While we love all the brushes included in the 12-piece set we bought earlier this year, the Total Face Brush is a brush with greatness, for sure. The bristles are incredibly soft, helping your favorite powders, bronzers and shimmers buff on smoothly and evenly.

Check out the full line of e.l.f. products, which are always available online at www.eyeslipsface.com.

Wrinkles, Anyone?

Spreading the word... A repost from ellaganda.com:

Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? (A special report from a volunteer)

Oct 21st, 2009 by ella

Dear friends,

I’m asking your help to spread the word. Tulungan po ninyo akong ikalat ito. Beyond this, we should also demand action. I disabled a plugin so you can copy the photos of relief goods rotting in DSWD warehouses. You can link this post to your blogs, facebook, websites etc. You can also email the photos.

Philippine News (US based Philippine newspaper) will use this as its front page story this week. Every Filipino has the right to know where the tons of donations from the UN and other counties go. Kahit po nakakahiya sa mga nag-donate. Kung sa ganitong paraan, matutulungan natin ang mga nasalanta, then by all means, let’s do it.

For those who have the time, please try to volunteer sa DSWD warehouses. Getting in was not easy. A friend had to put in a word for us. Let’s see kung madali nang makapasok sa DSWD warehouse ang mga volunteers.

Please read on and good luck to us.

Ella

(This post was last edited Oct 22, 12:30 pm)

Kahapon, tinanong ng Philippine News si DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral:

Editor of Philippine News: Why are the relief goods in DSWD warehouses not moving?

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral: Wala kasing volunteers.

This short interview was done over the phone. Philippine News wanted to hear her side pero ayaw niyang makipag-usap sa press. After four tries, pinasabi na lang niya ang maikling sagot na ito sa secretary niya - “Walang volunteers”.

I don’t want to accuse her of corruption but at the very least she is showing signs of being totally incompetent. We are in a state of calamity where every second counts. May namamatay araw-araw dahil sa sakit.

In my opinion, these deaths could have been prevented if Secretary Cabral had tried a little harder to do her job.

Deaths from Philippine storms nears 1,000

“Tropical Storm Ketsana left 420 dead and 37 missing when it flooded 80 percent of Manila on September 26, a disaster the government said affected 4.35 million people.

Some areas are still flooded three weeks later and 189,000 people remain in evacuation centres,

Typhoon Parma hit the northern Philippines on October 3 and lingered as a tropical storm for a week, triggering landslides that killed 438 people and leaving 51 missing mostly in mountain communities.

The government agency said Parma affected 4.16 million people, including more than 32,000 who remain at evacuation centres.”

During the first week after the storm, lumabas ang “bayanihan spirit” ng mga Pinoy. “Makatulong lang kahi’t konti,” katwiran nila.

kung walang volunteers, ano ‘to, komiks?

From Stella Arnaldo’s blog:

“At the offices of many civic groups and private organizations, hundreds of people showed up to volunteer in packing relief goods.

At the Tulong Bayan center at the Expo Centro in Cubao, Most of the volunteers were adolescents as young as 10 years old, along with their kuya or ate in high school and college.

They came in huge numbers, many of them barkadas, classmates or siblings, dressed just in their tees and shorts, wearing their Havaianas. All were just enthusiastic to do their share!Photos by Leah Navarro

GMA asked world for donations

Our government begged the world for more donations. Sumagot ang buong mundo sa ating panawagan. In less than three weeks, dumaong ang mga barko, ibinaba mula sa mga cargo planes, i-diniliver ng mga trak at container vans ang sandamakmak na relief goods. Cash donations were in the millions of dollars.

But these donations must be coursed through DSWD

Nagpalabas ng directive ang pangulo. Individuals, private companies and other nations were ENCOURAGED to send their donations to DSWD. I blogged about it here and the video of her announcement here.

This PGMA directive sounded suspicious to me then. Now I know why. Here’s the story.

A group of eight people, your ate Ella included, went to one of DSWD warehouses to help in repacking relief goods. We know they need volunteers pero hindi namin akalaing WALANG TAO TALAGA SA LOOB NG WAREHOUSE!

As in sa isang humongous warehouse (1000++ sq.m) NA PUNONG-PUNO NG RELIEF GOODS HANGGANG BUBONG, ISANG DSWD employee lang at ISANG SECURITY GUARD ang tao!!

Kailangang magpa-register at i-schedule ang volunteering

The warehouse can only take as much as 50 volunteers at a time or per shift. Here you will find that there is a 4-hour shift, and an option for a 6-hour shift for the volunteers to indicate their availability.

What “volunteers”? Nasaan?

Aside from the 8 of us? Nope, there was nobody there. Bakit kailangan ang scheduling? Feeling hindi ba magkamayaw at nagu-unahan ang mga volunteers?

I know somebody who wanted to volunteer many times. She was always bumped off, laging nirere-schedule kasi “there were too many volunteers” daw. At tuwing Sunday lang daw puwede. What the hell is going on here?

Nakatambak ang donations ng UNICEF sa warehouse, local and international

Mga banig na dapat ay nahihigaan ng mga nasalanta. Mga imported camp beds na hindi na yata masisilayan ng mga biktima. Mga kumot na hindi naman nakabalot sa katawan nila. At mga pagkaing hindi sumasayad sa sikmura nila.

The relief goods are not going anywhere

We arrived at about 8 am and left by midafternoon and yes, you guessed it right. Kami pa rin ang tao bukod sa isang DSWD employee sa loob ng warehouse maghapon. Walang ibang dumating.

The relief goods are not moving. By the way things look, they are not going anywhere. Hindi maglalakad mag-isa ang mga donations na ito papunta sa mga evacuation centers.

LET THE PICTURES DO THE TALKING

Note: Pinagbawalan kaming kumuha ng pictures sa loob ng warehouse. I wonder why.

“Not a creature was moving, not even a mouse.”Parang haunted warehouse ang dating. May multo na yata.

Kahit na daig pa ang tindahan sa Divisoria sa dami ng naka-stack na kaldero

At walang katapusang kaldero pa ulitKahit halos natakpan na ang mga bintana sa dami ng mga kahonKahit umabot na hanggang kisame ang stack ng mga kahon(Close up ng Coleman camp beds sa previous photo) Hindi ito kasama sa ni-repack naming goods. Para sa mga “special victims” kaya ito? Ire-repack kaya ang mga “imported” camp pads na ito ever?

Sabagay, may BANIG naman para sa “ordinary victims”. Ito ang kasama sa inimpake namin. Sayang ‘yung imported.

Ano kaya ang laman nito? Hindi rin pinabuksan. Pang-special victim din kaya ito? (teka, dito nga pala galing ‘yung mga kumot)

Mahiwagang mga kahon from Japan Aid.

(close up ng mahiwagang kahon) Hindi rin ito kasali, of course. Hindi namin alam kung ano ang laman nito. “Imported” are not included, we have concluded.

Marami ito, mga laruang kasinlaki ng tao. Hindi nakunan ng pic kasi nasa tabi ng sikyo.

PORK AND BEANS? Yup, you’d think kasama ito sa relief bag. Pork and beans lang ‘to, puwede na sigurong ipamigay,

Naaah! “Imported” pork and beans from Spain po ito. Sorry, hindi pa rin included

Now let’s take a look at what a victim will get from DSWD

Look Ma, sampung lata ng sardinas! How generous! Kaldero ang unang ilalagay sa sako. Sabong panglaba (bar soap) at sampung sardinas sa ilalim. Siyam na sabon sa gilid ng kaldero. Local goods lahat syempre.

Tapos papatungan ng isang tuwalya at isang pack ng sanitary napkin.

Sisiksikan ng tatlong rolyo ng kumot(?) ang blue water jug tapos ipapatong sa kaldero sa loob ng sako.

Last but not the least, lalagyan ng dalawang banig.

Sabay tatahiin na ang sako. O di ba, parang asong tinapunan ng buto ang mga nasalanta? Eniwey, busog naman sila sa SAMPUNG lata ng Mega sardinas

Do not delay

YOU THINK?? WTF is the matter with these people? Mag-iisang buwan na mula nang masalanta ang mga kababayan natin. ISANG BUWAN!! Do you mean “do not delay ang dati nang delayed”?? Shet.

Anong ginagawa ng mga donations na ito sa warehouse?? APAT na warehouse ang nasa loob ng compound na ‘yon! APAT na warehouse na punong-puno ng inaalikabok na relief goods! Relief goods na ayaw yata ibigay sa mga nasalanta. Halatang-halata.

Marami pang pabubulukin

Wow! May bagong shipment na naman! At the rate DSWD is moving, next year na madi-discover kung ano ang laman ng mga kahong ito.

“The first of two of the largest high-energy food shipments from the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) arrived in the country two days ago for victims of storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”

The biscuits were fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for supplementary feeding to children, pregnant women and the elderly in evacuation camps. Another 100 tons of biscuits will arrive on Oct. 24, in a continuing effort to provide food assistance to flood victims.

Sige, ideretso ‘nyo ulit ‘yan sa DSWD warehouse. Para AMAG naman ang abutin ng biskwit… at sapot ng gagamba.

Conclusion

Sa maghapon namin sa warehouse,nakagawa kami ng 150 sacks of relief goods. 150 bags of relief goods lang ang lumabas sa warehouse na ‘yon that day. At nandoon pa rin sa loob ang mga imported relief goods, safe, sound and packed as the day they arrived.

Nakisakay kami palabas sa isang DSWD delivery van. Gusto sana kaming ihatid ng driver hanggang Makati pero wala raw siyang sobrang gasolina. Ibinaba na lang niya kami sa gitna ng EDSA. Millions of dollars in donations, walang extrang pang-gasolina.

Susulpot din siguro ang laman ng mga mahiwagang kahon at mapapasakamay din ng mga tao…sa ARAW NG ELEKSYON. O mabibili na nila ang mga imported goods na ‘yon sa mga puwesto sa Quiapo at Divisoria.

Suggestions lang po sa DSWD:

Alam ‘nyo palang walang mag-volunteer sa inyo, bakit hindi kayo mag-hire ng mga tao? Bayaran ‘nyo ng arawan para mag-repack. Ang daming walang trabaho, makakatulong pa kayo. Hindi naman malaking kabawasan ‘yon sa bilyong pisong donasyon na natanggap ninyo.

Isa pa, gaano ba karami ang mga sundalo natin? Hindi ba puwedeng ipagawa sa kanila ‘yan? Baka isang araw lang, tapos na ang problema ‘nyo

Bakit hindi ‘nyo ibigay ang trabaho sa mga NGO, churches, private charities, TV stations? I’m sure they are more than willing to help. Time is of the essence. Huwag kayong suwapang. Obvious ba, hindi ‘nyo naman kaya.

Kung talagang gugustuhin ninyong makarating agad sa mga kawawang biktima ang mga donasyong ‘yon, nagawa ‘nyo na ‘yan. Maraming paraan…kung talagang gusto ‘nyo lang.You are the government. You have the power, the resources and the money. You just have to really care.You are the government. You have the power, the resources and the money. You just have to really care.

Mally Beauty Lash Illusion Liners

I have been spending a lot of time lately, checking out liners that will work for the inner rim of the eye, the waterline. Some go on really nicely, some melt away and some can stay on like rock stars. But more on those later. In the meantime, I came across a liner that is slightly different from your normal pencil liner. It's still a pencil, it's still a black liner, but it's different from all of your other pencils.

Mally Beauty Lash Illusion Liner is a teeny, tiny pencil that is to be used to fill in spaces between your lashes, giving you a fuller lash line without looking like you're wearing liner. It's a time honored makeup artist trick, one you probably have been reading about since you were 15. You know the one: "gently dot right along your lash line and then connect the dots, making sure to stay right inbetween your lashes." And probably, like me, you tried. I tried for hours to make the dots work without looking like I was wearing liner. The problem? ALL pencils are too thick to make a line that isn't noticeable (see below for regular pencil "dots" vs. Mally).

My hands aren't steady enough to pull that off with a liquid liner and skinny brush, so it never worked for me. I can't get enough eyeshadow pigment on a tiny brush to make a noticeable difference.

Mally Beauty's Lash Illusion is a little pencil that does the job perfectly. How tiny is tiny? We are talking three-of-them-can-fit-in-the-width-of-my-middle-finger tiny. They are very pigmented and easy to use. You get two black/brown liners in a cute little case and luckily, they come with their own sharpener. Mally (makeup artist to super-performers like Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Mary J. Blige) suggests you hold the pencil up and down, perpendicular to your lash line and gently dot along your lashes, filling them in. While I can't seem to manage to do that, I have no problem just getting between my lashes and filling them in. This pencil specifically kicks butt for the lower lashes, where you can easily line lightly in between the lash line. You won't look like you are wearing eye liner, while making your eyes pop. It's a great trick, but you can only do it with this pencil (I am sure a pro can do it with something else, but I can't!). For $20, plus shipping from the Q, you'll get 2 pencils, the case and the sharpener. You have to have these little pencils in your bag of tricks. Especially if you don't like to wear a lot of makeup, these give your eyes some kick without looking like you are trying too hard.I love them. Check them out!

Quick Chat with Paula Begoun, The Cosmetics Cop

Paula Begoun has to be the original beauty blogger. Before blogs, before lightening fast Internet, there was a series of books called "Don't Go to The Cosmetics Counter Without Me". If you aren't familiar with this title, and you love cosmetics, these books will change your life. Paula reviews cosmetic products by their chemical composition, not by her opinion of what she personally likes.Her reviews are like neutral ground; stable compounds that are packaged properly will get high marks. Outlandish claims or harsh unneeded fragrances will not do so well. If you ever want to know what products live up to their claims from a cosmetic chemist point of view, Paula is your gal. Better yet, become a paid subscriber to Paula's website, Beautypedia and never miss a thing. I am constantly reading her reviews and her online ingredient dictionary is my go-to resource for quick research.I recently had the chance to chat with Paula very briefly on her Blog Talk Radio show. My question? What is going on with my skin? Why is the skin around my nose taking on a spongy appearance while the rest of my face still looks nice and smooth? Her answer? I might be perimenopausal.WHAT? Wait, I am slipping into menopause? I'm 36! Paula mentioned that one thing that effects the size of pores is androgen. As the body doesn't make as much estrogen, pore size can increase. All of which, is a side effect of perimenopause.OK. I would like to forget that portion of the conversation happened.So let's skip ahead to what she said I could do to improve the size of my pores. "Avoid irritating ingredients in all of your skin care products. Be sure to use products that do not contain things like alcohol, peppermint and many plant extracts. Try to avoid fragrances, they just aren't needed. Look for a really great exfoliant. Salicylic acid is a great exfoliant that can help bring about changes in your skin and the texture. There are quite a few out there, but, call me biased, I really like my 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel. It really helps exfoliate the skins surface, as well as the pore lining."

I mentioned that as a blogger I change products often, every four to six weeks, and Paula exclaimed, "Oh my. I guess bloggers have to do that, but everyone else shouldn't. Skincare is like your diet. Can you imagine if you ate all kinds of random foods constantly? You would have the worse case of indigestion ever. If you can find a regimen you like, stick with it. The better it is for you and the more consistent you are, the better your skin will look. And of course, be sure to wear your sunscreen protection."Even if I deny I could be perimenopausal, it was so much fun to chat with someone who has been such an influence in my life for the last 15 years. Thanks, Paula!Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

The Cinderella Effect: Orlane Absolute Radiance Lightbox

Phyto Transforms My Hair

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Kristin Culan, the resident Phyto expert at the Ted Gibson Salon in Chevy Chase, MD. From the first time Kristin was able to check out my visibly dry hair, she had a plan to help transform my over-processed locks into glistening, healthy hair.To start off my hair transformation, I started with an intensive Phyto treatment at the salon. Kristin treated my scalp with Phytopolleine, an essential oil mixture that stimulate the hair bulb, preserve a healthy scalp and help boost keratin production. Then she added a mixture of Phyto Huile de Ales and PhytoSesame Conditioner to my hair and placed me under a hair steamer for about 25 minutes. Afterwards, my hair was silky smooth and softer than it had been in some time.Kristin admittedly said, "It will really take about 1 month for the products to make a real difference. Sure, your hair will feel different on the surface, but to really make a difference where the health of your scalp is concerned or how your hair behaves, it will take a few weeks to make a dramatic change." So, to get the real benefits, she sent me home with enough sample products to last for one month.To revamp my hair, which is colored at home every 3-4 weeks, it would take a few products to address all of the damage I do to my very short hair. Kristin prescribed a weekly home scalp and huile treatment to be left on overnight. She also suggested a weekly treatment shampoo and conditioner as well as an every-other day shampoo and conditioner. I'd by lying if I said it wasn't a lot of keep track of. However, Kristin had thoughtfully given me a schedule to follow, which made it much easier.Here are some things you should know (and my Mom in Law will yell at me if I don't disclose the following):The essential oils in the scalp treatment are strongly scented. While it wasn't a scent I would have chosen, I got over it based on the results I saw after a week. I don't think it's bad, it's just strong.The huile makes your hair soft like butter. The transformation after using this is pretty impressive.None of these treatments are particularly recession friendly. That said, if you waste money on trying product after product that doesn't work, you are wasting time and money, so you should take that into consideration. All of the products mentioned are priced in the $30-50 range.It's been one month since my initial treatment at the Ted Gibson Salon. The verdict? My hair in incredibly soft. It is shines similarly to glass, with no additional product. My scalp is not dry and itchy, like the rest of me. And I would swear my hair has grown much faster in the last 30 days than it did previously, which I attribute to the weekly scalp treatments.Here are the details on my full regimen:Weekly Treatment: Overnight treatment of Phytopolleine and Huile de Ales.

Weekly Shampoo and Conditioner: I used Phytonectar Shampoo andPhytokarite Masque. Phytonectar uses revitalizing soy extracts to help hydrate very dry hair. Phytokarite inlcudes vitamin E and hydrolyzed keratin to rebuild the hair protect it from outside stressors. Phytonectar uses revitalizing soy extracts to help hydrate very dry hair.

Every Other Day Shampoo and Conditioner: I used the Phytojoba Shampoo and Intense Hydrating Hair Masque. The Phytojoba shampoo helps preserve the hairs integrity, while leaving it velvety soft and supple. The conditioner helps to nourish and protect the hair, while helping it retain it's natural moisture.To kick off your Phyto treatment, call the Ted Gibson Salon closest to you and schedule your treatment. You will thank me later!Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

Black Sweet

Pages