Hair and There

March 28, 2019

It's been a while since I featured an archived post of mine from old blogs but since it's Thursday, I thought to do this #Throwbackthursday post featuring this post about that one chapter in my life I had short hair!


This was a post from three years back to when I experienced probably one of the worst heartbreaks of my life. I guess the "heartbreak haircut" is real! Yet, re-reading this old post reminded me that it isn't just snipping my locks out of hurt but preparing myself for big change. Enjoy :)
Hair and There
3/20/2016

Not every girl will share this same sentiment, but I have always hated the salons. I never feel pampered going there; I just only imagine horror music playing in the air as my anxiety rises up whenever I get even just a trim. Goddamn, I can paint my own nails and cut my own bangs without paying a ridiculous amount. Little did I know, though, that the one place I loathed would be the very place I will feel real metamorphosis–and ultimately get my money’s worth.

The most liberating feeling I’ve felt was the moment clumps of hair fell to the ground. Gone was the girl with long brown hair that flowed in waves reminiscent of the sea salt on hair after a day in the beach. She disappeared the moment blades kissed her hair–she probably disappeared even before that as barbed wire covered her heart more when he broke it again. The mountain of hair forming beneath the salon chair means I am free from all the personal baggage I once had. Not only were my own gone, but also the baggage he left me with before he took the easy flight out from my life. The swift movement of steel scissors makes a sound upon touching my hair, reminding me that there would be change soon…

And I’ll be okay.

Never  have I ever looked so light–and even felt like it. I don’t look as grim and dark anymore. My shoulders felt weird because it suddenly felt the wind better; I never even noticed air blew my way! For me, it felt like for the longest time I was suffocating for the lack of oxygen here on land…or maybe drowning in way too much of it along with hydrogen if it were the waters. Odd as it sounds, but it was as if I was recharged and renewed. It surprised me that I would be conscious enough to want to cut my hair that short, but it will only raise higher up…

The first haircut was for loss: losing everything that I thought was important and dear to me. The second and most recent one is for gain: the self-love and self-confidence I started to acquire again. This change was for me to be better. It was for me to not be afraid of risks. This hair I have now is shorter and a bit edgier; a far cry from the girly Rapunzel locks I sported my whole life and the long bob that seemed more sophisticated. A far cry from the hair I kept long for men who loved it. If long hair was the hand gesture that tells you to come closer and lures you in with the stereotypical feminine attractiveness, my short hair is the big FUCK YOU sign to that conformity, then.

Once in a while, I do miss the long hair. But do I ever regret going through two major chops in less than a span of two months? Not even. Hair grows from loss just like we all do. It’s involuntary and we cannot help it and it’s inevitable. It’s only natural. It will keep growing until we have more dead cells to shave off and embrace another change in our lives.


beauty

Fresh na Fresh: The One Foundation Worth the Hype

March 20, 2019



I only learned to appreciate foundation/base makeup later in my lifetime of being obsessed with makeup. I only wore liquid foundation once throughout my teens (MAC PA) and I hated how heavy and cakey it looked. I rediscovered it in college, fell in love, but knew whatever I used wasn't totally perfect.

But using the right foundation, I discovered that I felt prettier, BRIGHTER, and magical. All the times I used foundation, I only loved it because it worked for me to an extent, but never all the way.

But this feeling of foundation not making effort is over for I finally found the most BIGATIN, BONGGA FUNDA EVER.


L'Oreal Infallible Freshwear 24 Hour Foundation

I've always been intrigued with this product especially after Tati raved about it.

I'll be honest: I already tested the L'Oreal Infallible Freshwear 24 Hour foundation prior to these pictures and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, I didn't take pics of the first few times I tried it but here are some documentation I made when I decided to do a formal review.

This is what the foundation looked like when I freshly applied it. I used Nichido Final Powder in Creamy Glow to set it.  Feel na feel ko pa makeup ko! Time check: 7:30AM

This was taken when it was almost 3PM--more than seven hours later! Mind you, I endured heavy commute in the  morning heading to a coverage in Adriatico, commuted again to DOH, and then commuted again to Intramuros. Only blotted my face right before I took this selfie so I must say it's quite impressive!

This final check up shot on my foundation was taken a little over 9PM. The foundation obviously faded a bit but in person, it still looked decent and just needed a little blot. MAS NAUNA BUMIGAY EYELINER AT SHADOW KO!Almost 14 hours of funda wear in this Philippine weather and traffic? Super sold! (Also, don't mind the lumpia. I was really hungry then)
Here's a rundown on things I observed with the foundation:

  • It doesn't have a straight-up matte finish but this satiny one that makes me look like ang ganda ng skincare routine ko.
  • Despite the non-matte finish, it smooths over my pores! Insta-filter!
  • It sets pretty quickly so you better work fast with your application. Tried it with a beautyblender, cushion sponge, silicone sponge, and fingers and they all worked well for me. I prefer using a dense blending brush since it maximizes the coverage that way.
  • I used primer the very first time I used it but the next times I used it--including this time of review--I didn't use anything to prime my face. Tibay!
  • My shade is Radiant Sand, which is a touch darker than my skintone. Totally my fault here but it doesn't look that bad. Having a light powder or mixing it with a little lighter foundation worked for me. 
  • It oxidizes a bit and if you use the wrong type of powder, the shade will look yellowy! (I used it a few times with my Kris Aquino x Ever Bilena Matte Powder Foundation in Lifetime and I LOOKED LIKE I USED TURMERIC POWDER TO SET MY FACE BY THE END OF THE DAY)
  • The shade range is so bad here locally. Radiant Sand is already the darkest shade available.
  • It obviously won't last for 24 Hours but it fades quite evenly and beautifully. Your skin won't look like the map of the world after the end of the day.
Wet hair, don't care. But look! Is my foundation there? (Sorry, I love rhymes hahaha)

One of the things I love about this foundation is that it's pretty versatile. Bake your face with a loose setting powder and you have a durable matte base. My favorite way to set my face, though, is using a baked powder that's a little on the glowy side because it looks like my skin, but better. In the photo above, I used MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus lightly dusted on my face. It kinda mimics the look of having a great skin day as opposed to having heavy foundation. Love love love!

The L'Oreal Infallible Freshwear 24 Hour Foundation is now my favorite product from the brand to date. I was already impressed with their Color Riche Matte Lipsticks (Review here) and agreed with the hype on the Lash Paradise mascara (Review here).