Girls, thank you for sharing your thoughts on copyright infringement over that previous post. And to those who gave such helpful tips and links, huge thanks!

I received another email alerting me about two more infringing sites. Concerned reader mailed me more photos being used where my stamped watermark were deliberately taken off. I collated the photos vis-a-vis the original photo which bore my copyright mark.

Now that I've properly documented each violation, I can fill up two forms as advised by one of my darling readers, Rae. (Thanks Rae!)

I really hate to put watermarks across pictures but I guess I'll be forced to (partly to prevent scammers from easily performing their evil plans). Can anybody teach me how to come up with watermarks that do not destroy pictures?

I do not prohibit web users to take photos from this web page. All I ask is that my pictures remain unaltered and that you link back to the source.

Photo and article theft for that matter.

When I wrote a post about deliberate copyright infringement, I never really entertained the idea that this malicious occurrence can happen to my blog. Sadly, it did and I feel a little upset that photo grabbing without proper citation is becoming rampant these days.

Seller got photos from my Pretty Model Slimming Capsules Review post, cropped the watermark that I thought would protect each shot, and labelled my photos as if they were his/her own. These photos appear on seller's main web page and on 2 local selling sites (sulit and kaliwaan) the business signed up for.

they took out my watermark and posted my pics on their site. sigh.

again, my photo deprived of my usual © watermark

The seller's site even carried plagiarized content (verbatim!) courtesy of the article I wrote for that review:

Another sad news is that this isn't the only seller who got my photos. There are two others. Jeeez.

If it weren't for some concerned blogger who emailed me, I would not have known, so a huge thanks to you.

I have informed the business about the issue and requested them to take my writings down and properly use my photos if they wanted to (all they could've done was to (1) ask permission from me OR (2) cite their photo source and not take off my watermark. I just pray that they get to do the right thing this time.

Has this ever happened to you, too? I hope not. For my blogger comrades, what do you feel about copyright infringement?

I have been using Estee Lauder's highly reviewed liquid foundation, the Double Wear Stay-In-Place makeup, for quite some time already before I decided to give up on it. It wasn't because the foundation was a bad product or that it broke me out; I stopped because my exact shade match was not available at local counters (a huge boo, really, for a foundation so fantastic as this).

Main Impression

This top-rating liquid foundation is neither runny nor too thick. Makeup fans love how well it glides on the skin while infrequent makeup users like me may have a bit of a hard time blending this foundation perfectly. Also, the fact that it dries out real quick on the skin may be a huge factor why it's not easy for me to even it out on the face. To lessen my application problems using this foundie, I find that using the fingertips is the best way to put this on.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Foundation, SPF 10, 30mL
P1,900 (~$43) - local counters, $35 - website

Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation provides a non-greasy, lightweight feel on my face that stays put for a good 9 hours (coupled with a good face primer). I only had to blot twice during that day and was still able to sport a clean, fresh look that my friends gush about. Its matte finish unfortunately obviates the dry areas on my cheeks, sides of the nose and some parts of my chin area, but it's nothing that ample moisturizing can't correct.

Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sand on my NC25 skin

The makeup blends well with the skin and provides ample coverage for my skin imperfections. It was able to decently conceal all the reddish areas of my face and most acne marks while blurring the visible pores on my cheeks, nose and forehead. My undereye area gets instantly brighter too even without the use of a concealer. It was effectively able to give me a flawless look . I heard that it can also provide full coverage but I've yet to try it since I'm already satisfied with its natural, healthy finish. 

Shade Match Fail

[Checkout Sand, Tawny and Ivory Cream swatches side-by-side on NC25] I first used Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sand (warm undertone), then jumped to Ivory Cream (neutral), and lastly to Tawny (warm). Chart-wise, my selection of shades ranged from lightest to darkest (with Ivory Cream being under a different undertone group). It was truly wasted money on these three because none of them were a perfect match on my NC25 skin (Yup, I'm now NC25, thanks to my derma's wonderful topicals). Sand and Ivory were too light, Tawny a tiny bit dark.

My last hope was for Sand or Ivory Cream to turn dark on my acidic face. But since this super foundation never significantly darkened my skin as most liquid foundations do, I can firmly conclude that I have not been given my perfect match yet. I'm eyeing Fresco (neutral) or Ivory Beige (warm), but SAs claim that these shades will never reach our counters. 

Estee Lauder+ In2it: tweaking the too light Double Wear shade (Sand) with
 In2it 2-way Powder Foundation (Golden Harvest)

It might be too vengeful of me to rate the foundation really low plainly because I have not seen my shade match just yet (shade match is super points for me). If I wanted to keep each Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation bottle, I will have to make do on figuring out tweaks and tricks to make the currently available shades work for me. But I don't have the luxury of time to perform these tweaks every time I do my makeup because I'm such a slowpoke. I need a PERFECT SHADE MATCH. (N.B. I will do a separate post on the shade swatches)

Notice how my face is too white in comparison to my neck (2nd photo)
I set the liquid foundation with a powder foundie that finishes dark on me (In2it)

Helpful Hints

1. This product is packed in a twist-cap bottle. If you have a MAC SFF foundation pump, you can use it to allow a more hygienic and controlled method of getting the product out of the bottle.

Photo Source

2. I address my issues with its consistency (explained above) by mixing the foundation with my moisturizer.

3. Be sure to use a makeup primer if you have oily skin so that this makeup stays put well.

Recommendation

If you have oily skin and you want to achieve a flawless face canvas for a good number of hours without the heavy, greasy feel, save up for a bottle of this superb foundation. I never broke out from this foundation. It's a bit pricey but a 30mL bottle will be difficult to finish even if you use it on a daily basis. It may be a grueling task to find the perfect shade match since not all shades are available in our local Estee Lauder booths but once you get a good match, the Double Wear liquid foundation may just top your list of HG face bases.

Since the winner never got back to me with her contact details, I'm drawing a new winner for the full-size tub of the Hydro Boost Moisturizer. I hope our new winner contacts me for the prize, else, another draw will take place.

Congratulations, Pammy! Please send me your contact number within 72 hours (please use the blog's contact form).

Neutrogena takes cleansing to greater heights by coming up with the Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser. This product claims to clean the skin while keeping the its moisture level normal. It is also able to restore the skin's natural moisture balance for users who complain about the ill-effects of skin dehydration.

Packaging

It is stored in a no-spill, dreamy blue, clear plastic bottle with a pump. The pump dispenses a fair amount of mousse product, but I feel that you need at least two pumps to clean the face a lot better. The 150mL bottles aren't travel-friendly (it's bulky and lacks the "twist pump-to-lock" feature ala-Shu Uemura) and I'm hoping that they'll come up with a smaller Neutrogena Hydro Boost mousse cleanser bottle with a better sealing system soon.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser, 150mL, 445.50php

Scent

This has a strong soapy scent that seems subtle when the mousse first hits the face. I suddenly realize how strong and chemical-ish it actually smells after rinsing the cleanser off.

Cleansing Performance

This is a fuss-free, lather-rich, no-sting cleanser that does the job in my opinion. I get a cleaner cotton ball from toning after using this cleanser versus using my good old kojic soap. A downside though is that I do not feel "totally clean" just by using this product alone. This is best used in conjunction with a good makeup remover if you use makeup on a daily basis.

Not fond of the drying effect of mousse cleansers? Check out a more gentle Cetaphil Gentle Skin cleanser! I swear by this product in giving me a more supple and healthy-looking skin!

Mousse cleansers are notorious for drying out the skin. Surprisingly, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser impressed me when it was able to strip off any other dirt left from my usual oil cleansing without making my face uncomfortably taut. It lived up to the "cleans the skin while keeping the its moisture level normal" promise! 

Price

This retails at P445.50 per 150mL bottle. This is a rather steep price to pay for a drugstore brand. There are cheaper cleansers that can do the same job. But if you want the luxury of slathering a more regal texture on the face, P445.50 is a fair amount to shell out.

Liquid-to-mousse magic: Is one pump enough?

Recommendation

I highly recommend this product to those with annoyingly oily skin who are still on the lookout for a cost-efficient cleanser. This product does not contain excessive oil ingredients and leaves the skin clean and hydrated. Other skin types may find this cleanser beneficial too, but there are other cheaper cleansers in the market.

Helpful Hints:

1. Use the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser on dry face.

2. This isn't ideal to tote around. If you're camping out and will need this bottle, seal the cap with a tape and place it inside a Ziploc. The cap that prevents the pump from dispensing product may easily come off if the cleanser is not packed properly in the bag.

Rich mousse product that lathers well to clean the face thoroughly after makeup removal

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser is truly a breakthrough product for the brand. It offers consumers something new, effective and exciting. While the oily skin population will definitely want this cleanser, those with other skin types might just hop on to the next Neutrogena product.

Ever since I had my hair colored using Revlon Colorsilk in Light ash Brown 50, I was tipped by a colorist that using hair masks once a week can help lock in moisture to the dyed hair. Unpleasant hair dryness can result from hair coloring and your best bet in avoiding this problem is to get a product that can generously moisturize the scalp.

For the past 9 months, I've tried three affordable hair masks that made others clueless about the drying effects of constant hair coloring on my locks:

Elseve Re-Nutrition Hair Mask, Cream Silk Hair Mask and
Purederm Nourishing Repair Hair Mask

Creamsilk Precision Repair Treatment

Cream Silk Precion Repair Mask, ~P14, 20mL sachet

cheapest of the lot at ~P14/20mL sachet
special instructions from Creamsilk: for severely damaged hair, use consecutively for 3 days and every 7 days thereafter.

L'oreal Elseve Re-Nutrition w/Royal Jelly

L'oreal Elseve Re-Nutrition Hair Mask, ~P21/ 15mL sachet

L'oreal Elseve has around 3 or 4 varieties of hair masks you can choose from
This Royal Jelly variant worked well for me compared to the pink/red one

Purederm Chamomile Nourishing Repair Mask

Purederm Nourishing Repair Hair Mask (chamomile), ~P80 20mL

This hair mask has the most divine scent! It is both an effective hair treatment product and an aromatherapy treat!

So, Which Hair Mask To Choose?

Since all three I've tried worked wonderfully in moisturizing my scalp, and none of the three gave me breakouts, it's up to my budget which among these I should purchase.

Get Creamsilk if you want a cheap treatment mask that works. Grab L'oreal if you have a few extra pesos to spare and you feel that Creamsilk's rather fluid consistency seems substandard compared to L'oreal's thick cream. And if you want some cooling effect on the scalp plus the feeling of having been given a royal hair treatment, get Purederm's.

Thanks to Rae, Pammy, Joanna and Aimee for joining. It's so sad that I only had four entrants, but their entries were absolutely lovely to read that it didn't matter if only a handful joined. I got all the more excited when all of the girls had high hopes for the Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel's consistency because I knew that the product will not disappoint.

I do not need Random.org since I only have 4 entries, and without further ado, the winner is...

Joanna!

You just won a full-sized Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel! Please email me your contact number (via my contact form) within 72 hours (beyond this, I will be picking a new winner). I'm keeping the unpicked rolled papers inside the wine glass just in case we don't hear from Joanna.

For those who've contacted me about the locket I was wearing during my Bayo scallop-tier top post, I purchased it from 6F Jewellery. Yup, I discovered that my derma came from a family of jewellers several months ago when nurses from neighboring-clinic, Belo, were buzzing about it. 

Looking closely at the blurry necklace above:

So there, I'm sorry I lack the time emailing each and everyone of you who asked. I wish I had more than 24 hours in a day, really!

Open to ALL PHILIPPINES' RESIDENTS

Today, I'm celebrating my month-long use of the Neutrogena Hydroboost water gel moisturizer! I'm currently loving how well-hydrated my face has become within the span of time I'm on it.

To celebrate this beauty achievement, I'm hosting a giveaway for one full-sized tub of this wonderful moisturizer. I strongly encourage oily-skinned gals to join this contest!

Mechanics:

1. Answer these questions briefly using the comment form below:

A) From my previous post, which among the common conditions that cause skin dehydration struck you the most and why?

B) What are your expectations from the Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel?

2. Using your account on FB, twitter or blog, repost this contest and leave the link. (if more than 1 social  networking media is used, the succeeding ones will be credited +1 entry accordingly).

3. Leave your e-mail address.

4. One comment form ONLY for your entire entry following this format:

A)

B)

Required repost link

Optional link 1

Optional link 2

email address

5. Contest ends on July 15, 2011 at 11:59PM. One winner will be drawn via Random.org.