A eureka moment for me...

Introducing, a Smashbox Photofinish Primer dupe (in my opinion) --- L'oreal's True Match Smooth Up Makeup Base! This is definitely waaay better than Monistat Anti-Chaffing Gel's infamous thick texture and heavy feel.

Checking its ingredients, L'oreal True Match Smooth Up Base is a cross between Smashbox Photofinish Primer Original and Light. It has Light's water-based feature (good for oily skin) and Original's silicone derivatives.

L'oreal True Match Smooth Up Makeup Base, 30mL, 425php (~$9)

From the box:

"A supple, light and gliding texture that smooths out pores and fine lines for an impeccable make up finish to last all day."

What I love about it:

• held my makeup in place for around 7 hours; makeup never turned dark on me (which always does whenever I skip primers)
• locally available and cheap (425php!)
• can blur pore diameter
• lightweight
• the silky feel it creates on my skin
• creates a perfect canvas for my face makeup
• hygienic tube
• has a version for dry skin -- L'oreal True Match Moist Up Makeup Base

Uh-ohs:

• a pea-size isn't enough
• the silicone content may cause breakouts for some users
• silicone-based primers are not recommended for daily use

This is how the product looks like:

looks perfectly like Smashbox Photofinish Primer Light out of the tube

feels like Smashbox Photofinish Primer Original when slathered on the face

I wore this in an FOTD I posted a while back and the shots were taken 5 hours (or was it 6?) after makeup application. To think that I commuted to and from my patient's residence.

This is a good primer to get since you're getting loads of benefits without splurging. I will definitely buy again after finishing the tube.

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

1) UNICEF Registration (as a volunteer)

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 ulit

Kahit halos natakpan na ang mga bintana sa dami ng mga kahon

Kahit 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.

For all the girls who have given up on mineral make-ups (MMU's) or are on the brink of throwing them out... please reconsider.

In between those times I've basked with minerals, I've always thought of going back to traditional foundies especially during those zitty times for their excellent coverage. I never knew that the choice of mineral applicator can make a HUGE improvement on the foundie's coverage.

I've always used brushes to apply them as it was the most popular method of getting an airbrushed look. It wasn't until five days ago that I discovered how sponges can be better mineral foundie applicators for my skin type--- scarred, oily and acidic.

Joppa Mineral Foundie Full Coverage Light 3, $22

The Bodyshop's Professional Sponge, 200php (~$5)

The basics of applying MMU's with a sponge (get the bodyshop's!!!):

1. Transfer a bit of the foundie onto the lid

2. Dip your dry sponge onto the product.

3. Tap the sponge a little to get rid of the excess minerals

4. Smooth onto skin in a downward motion

5. Blend, blend, blend

I've used MMU's for almost a year now, not because they've made me look flawless, but because

• they're gentle on my sensitive skin... Zero break-outs
• they give my face a certain kind of glow after washing it off at the end of the day
• the full-sized jar I bought 9 months back is still half-full
• mineral make ups do not expire

And ever since my discovery on the bodyshop professional sponge+mineral foundation loveteam, I can now add:

• they make me look like I've got great skin

FOTD on Joppa Minerals' Natural Look:

before the minerals, zits on chin+eyebags+pock marks beneath cheekbone

Joppa+sponge tandem worked for me!

I used: Clinique's 3-step

Primer: L'oreal True Match Smoothing Makeup Base

BB Cream: Elianto Miracle Multiplex #2

Foundie: Joppa Minerals Full Coverage Light 3

Finpow: Aromaleigh URFP in Peaches and Cream

Tools: The Bodyshop's Professional Sponge to Smooth on Joppa foundie and

EDM's flattop brush for the URFP

YUP, no concealers!!! weeee!

Before my eureka moment with the sponge, I was lusting for a good concealer (MAC's or Cinema Secrets, based on forums). Imagine my big savings when I dabbed on a sponge?

So girls, before you rip that mineral makeup foundie jar off your kit, please consider using a good sponge. The only downside to it is that you get to use more of the product relative to using brushes. But what the heck, you'd look really pretty and flawless anyway!

New to mineral make-ups? Check out this forum that talks about 'em!

I will start my 'Best Makeup Primers (for Oily Skin) Series' with the first primer I've ever used... Skinhour's.

Skinhour Petite, 250php (~$5) from URU Galleria

I am recommending Skinhour's Mattifying Day Cream to every girl starting out with primers. Why? Because it gives good value to your money. It serves as a good moisturizer, sunblock and a makeup base.

Their mini tubs (15g net) can go as low as 180php (~$4) which will last you at least a month. But it goes out of stock really, really fast.

From the Skinhour multiply site:

A day cream that is non-clogging and oil free. Controls excess sebum the whole day. Also acts as makeup base that makes makeup long lasting. Contains pineapple extract known for its skin clearing properties and carrot to fight skin aging. Serenity variant gives a sweet yet subtle surprise to one’s face. The day cream also has SPF 15 for sun protection.

What the Mattifying Day Cream is packed with:

deionized aqua, organic mango butter, glyceryl stearate, sweet almond oil, organic goat milk, titanium dioxide, pineapple and carrot extract, a-tocopherol, sodium gluconate, organic non-solvent fragrance oils

the creamy product is packed with goodness your face'll love. really.

What I love about it:

• proudly Filipino made!
• unlike other primers that felt kinda sticky on my oily face post-application, skinhour's lived up to its name--- a mattifier. no oily, sticky moments!
• my face makeup stayed put all day! i only blotted twice, max, during all those days I used it under my mineral make up.
• transforms my skin into a perfect canvas for my makeup
• SPF 15
• moisturizing
• locally available and cheap

Uh-ohs:

• the uber fruuuuity scent (pineapple, I think)
• the container. it's an unhygienic tub. lazy me still needs to use a spatula to get the glorious primer out.
• it broke my chin out a little during the first few days. purging stage? beats me. (antidote: clinique's 3-step! yup, I still moisturize... and it stops breaking me out)

Skinhour's Mattifying Day Cream is a superb primer because it delivers. I'd recommend this product to those girls, especially oily-skinned ones like me, who would want to put an end to endless retouching sessions.

Do watch out for my upcoming posts on more effective face primers... till next time!

I was lucky to have been able to try this cheap blush duo on my cheeks. Sebastian Trucco's Blush Creme Duo in Desert Rose offers a pink blusher and a pretty highlighter.

From Sebastian Trucco: "Highlight and blush team up to give your skin a flawless, satiny finish. Cream-to-powder colors and contours bone structure. Silky sheer cream highlight accents and heightens. Subtly enhances natural skin. Housed in a dual-compact"

What I love about it:

• gives me a healthy flush on my cheeks; lovely color!
• 'newbie-to-blushes'-friendly in terms of application/blending
• the creamy blush glides perfectly and miraculously becomes powdery to suit my oily cheeks
• cheap! I got it for 400+ php
• the palette has a HUGE mirror!
• if you over apply the blush (a slim chance), the highlighter works great in toning it down

Uh-ohs:

• I have no use for the highlighter since it'll just emphasize my acne scars
• packaging looks like a coffin
• poor staying power on my oily, oily, oily cheeks
• locally unavailable; but there are a few who sell over ebay.ph

Here are the swatches (click pix to enlarge):

I'm still thinking if I'd purchase again after using it all up. I'm a little bit reluctant since I'm a cheek tint gal.

To anyone using NARS blushes: can this Trucco product be a shade dupe of any NARS blush at all? I was just wondering...

Here are the photos of how typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) devastated our properties:

Dad's car and my brother's sank into the deeps. Good thing that my brother drove the SUV to work, got stranded in EDSA, and was able to at least 'save' one vehicle.

Drum sets and blankets

Bye-bye, amplifier. No more noisy jamming at home. For now.

Bye-bye books and a whole lotta documents.

Dirt, mud, and bacteria

Our heavy, leather sofa made its way to the kitchen. A traveler, indeed.

Bye-bye study room.

The real dirty kitchen.

Our dirty kitchen... at its dirtiest.

Some of the beautiful people in our presently ugly house (soon to be a pretty, cozy home once again):

My mom forcing a smile... she sheds tears every second as she rummages through the ruins.

My sibs... who've been surprisingly masipag all throughout the cleaning and clearing stage!

My little sister cheering big brother up