Cheap Thrills: Hardware

Earlier today, I went shopping at Divisoria, the famous bargain capital of the Philippines (I just made that one up)! Haha! But really, I always enjoy going to Divi, as every trip is filled with great finds and the best buys that fit my air-tight budget to a tee. When you're a working girl on a budget, you can't always afford to go for 500-peso earrings or 2000-peso necklaces. If you can spare the time and the effort, Divi is always a good place to start. Visit 168 mall in the heart of the Divisoria district and you'll find wall-to-wall displays of just about anything -- from cellphones to umbrellas, to slippers, to trendy clothes, to hip accessories, and so much more. You won't have to worry about your rumbling tummy because there's a food court inside the mall. The choices are wide and varied, there's something for everyone, for sure!

I'll write about tips on how to conquer Divisoria soon. ;)

Check out some of my finds:

I got all these and more for a little under Php 1,500! I also was able to buy a pair of kicks that's perfect for the rainy season, a gold dragon bracelet, a pouch for my phones (in purple, oohlala!), and some hair styling tools (like spin pins and some curlers). Looking forward to my next visit!

Have you ever been to Divisoria? Do tell me all about it! :)

Love,

SGT <3>

Careline Extra Shine Lipgloss in 02

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

~ Audrey Hepburn

True, true. But a girl definitely can use some help in achieving the best lips ever, aside from speaking words of kindness, through the wonderful makeup breakthrough called the lip gloss! So you know how big of a sucker I am for affordable finds? Yeah, if you regularly tune in to my randomness on this site, or even if by some twist of fate, you somehow landed on this page and decided to read on, you will notice that this blog is aptly titled She Goes Thrifty. So yeah. I like being my usual kuripot self in whatever it is in life, from makeup, to skin and hair care, to clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories -- you name it, I will try my best to get more bang for my buck at just about anything!

So lately, I've been discovering lots of fun things from local cosmetic brands. On my last review, I featured a foundation from Ever Bilena (check out the post HERE). The day after I got that foundation, I bought two yummy-colored lip glosses from Careline. If I'm not mistaken, Careline is under the Ever Bilena umbrella brand. Anyway, on to the review:

I've been hearing and reading so much about this lip gloss. Check out Youtube. A lot of fashion and makeup gurus (I've seen mostly Pinays) rave about it. At Php 75 a pop, you can stack these babies up and use a different shade for each day and every occasion!

Hello there, Sarah G.! LOL.

I got one in 02, a coral-ish orange hue that I found super pretty. Apparently, they changed the packaging. They used to come in test tube-like packaging and had not-so-different tags/numbers.

What is it and what's in it?

Add caption

The batch number and manufacturing date are printed on the packaging.

What I like about it:

• There are 12 shades to choose from! One shade for each day! ;)
• Very affordable. A tube only costs Php 75 (a little less than $2)
• It's a local brand! Support PH made!
• It smells and tastes like watermelon! Yummy! - This has got to be my favorite take-away from this product. It's the ultimate consolation.
• Not too thick.
• Staying power is pretty decent. Mine stayed on for about 4 hours (without eating and drinking)
• Packs just the right amount of shimmer to cheer up any solid base color
• Widely available. I got mine from a local department store in our village mall. Check drugstores for availability as well.  Whenever there's an Ever Bilena stall, there will always be a Careline rack next door.
• The manufacturing date and batch number are printed on the back of its casing and on the bottom of the tube as well. (so you'll know when to toss it out once you started using it)
• Comes with a sponge applicator. I advise that you don't share lippies as much as possible, especially the tools you use to apply them (for sanitary purposes).
• Super compact. I can just put this in my pocket and go!
• Doesn't dry out my lips, provided that I prep 'em with lip balm.

What I dislike about it:

• I want the test tube packaging! *stomps feet angrily* Hehe, just kidding with the brat attack.
• This used to sell daw for Php 60, according to the video reviews I've seen on Youtube. Oh well. :(
• Not as pigmented as the reviews said! I was so disappointed in that regard.
• Despite the not-drying factor, it accentuated the already-existent dry flakes on my lips.

I wanted the test tube-ish packaging sana. :(

I'm easing into using orange-hued lip products. This is a good start.

A swatch on my arm. It's kind of sheer.

The gloss on my lips.

Doesn't go on too orange. :(
But when I use this with my Maybelline Lipstick in Cozy Tangerine, they
brought out the hints of orange in each other. Cool!

Sample look when I have the lip gloss on (all shots are done under natural lighting):

Over all, I think this was an pretty good purchase. Will I buy it again? I'm not sure. There might be more lip products out there that can serve more opaque color and pack some sheen as well. I recommend this to young girls who are just starting to build up their make-up kits. It's perfect for girls on a budget who are not too picky on their lippy. I suggest, however, that you use a more solid-hued lipstick as a base and use this as it is intended to be used - as a lip gloss, because if you rely solely on its color power, you won't get a lot of that. It basically goes on almost sheer, but not clear. This is so easy to use and very affordable too. With the applicator that comes with it, putting it on will be a breeze. If you're still new to makeup and just need something that's quick and cheap, this might just be for you.

I'm not completely dissing it, for I commend its decent staying power. Most of the more expensive lip glosses that I've been using don't really stay that long on me. I tend to lick my lips a lot (hence the dryness) and this gloss really stood the test of constant attempts at removal! :)) 

I like it a lot, at least for now. Until I find a better alternative to this, I might stick with it for a while. The only thing that threw me off really was the lack of pigmentation which I really did not expect from it. I initially thought that it's as good as the Youtube gurus say, but in my humble opinion, they fell short in the pigmentation department. Other than that, I don't regret buying this lip gloss. A review on shade 04 is coming up. Stay tuned. ;)

Love,

SGT <3

Ever Bilena Mousse Matte Foundation in Walnut

This is one of my random grocery purchases. Ever Bilena products are on sale in the nearby supermarket and I cannot just let that pass without taking advantage of the price slash!

Anyway, I'm gonna get down to the nitty-gritty. I haven't found much information on the Ever Bilena website, which is unfortunate. I do a lot of my background check and review check on the product on the internet. Sadly, I think they're phasing this line out. They've already phased out the mousse concealer and the mousse eyeshadows are on sale too (for clearance purposes). If you're thinking of trying out this foundation, I suggest you run to the nearest store and get your supply now.

The packaging...

It has a plastic covering on top to ensure product safety.

The shade isn't exactly what I wanted. This one suits a cool skin tone better.
The one I was supposed to get ran out of stocks. :(

A sample swatch

Swatch on the back of my hand.

When blended

 What I like about it:

• The price is such a steal! I got it on sale for Php 75 (less than $2) at a local supermarket
• Widely available. Many drugstores, department stores, and groceries carry this brand.
• It's a local brand. Support PH made!
• Matte. My face doesn't get too oily right away, much to my surprise. But it's important to set it with powder to maximize its matte property.
• There aren't much variety of selection available. Many shades are out of stocks already. It's kind of hard to find the shade that would best suit my skin tone.
• Staying power: about 3 to 4 hours. I only had to retouch my nose (since I have combination skin, my T-zone is my oiliest spot in the face) once all afternoon. For a cheap (not derogatory, promise!) product, that's kind of commendable. Weather when I used this: very humid!
• Works well as a concealer (for dark circles) too! I used it as a base to my Palladio Rice Concealer Stick and The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Tone-Correcting Concealer, and it helped cover the discoloration from my lack of sleep.
• Doesn't clog my pores.
• Didn't break me out (so far)
• Doesn't irritate my sensitive skin (surprisingly)
• Not too creamy. (can be its downside too)
• Blends well into my skin. I had to set it with my powder so it can completely mesh with my original skin tone. I wish I had gotten one meant for warmer skin tones with yellow undertones.
• Not heavy!
• Build-able. It has sheer to medium coverage. If you want something for like a night event, this may not be for you. This is okay for day or light makeup.
• You're getting a lot of bang for your buck with the amount of product that's in this thing! Sulit!

I used to have a bias against locally-produced and cosmetics but over time, local cosmetic companies seem to really amp up their products, step up to the plate, and rise up to the competition! That said, I'm still on the fence but I'm slowly dipping my toes into the possibilities and the potential that they offer. Besides, as long as we're supporting local enterprise, it counts for something, right?

What I dislike about it:

• It has an annoying scent. It's not necessarily funky-smelling but I just don't like it.
• The packaging. It's made of plastic. It's in a pot. (Unhygienic, unless you use disinfected hands before every dip or unless you use a foundation brush)
• Again, the packaging. It's obviously "inspired" by Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse Foundation, only this local dupe is bigger. Their copy-cat style of packaging adds to the cheap factor of their products, sorry. :(
• It's too bulky. :(
• It has glitters! UGH. One of my biggest con's for this product. I just want my foundation to be straight to the point, without any fuss like unnecessary shimmer. That's where the highlighter comes in!
• Not happy with the shade match! :( What do you think? Is it close enough?
• I actually dislike its grainy/rough consistency.

Although I cannot give a hands-down verdict to the Ever Bilena Mousse Matte Foundation in Walnut, I can honestly say that it's not a complete waste of money. It's a good transition product or something to use in-the-meantime. I don't know if I will purchase this again because I'm quite happy with my BB Cream from Etude House. I'm not really much of a foundation user anyway. But whenever I need extra coverage, I can whip this out and rely on its decent performance.

If you're still curious, I suggest you visit an Ever Bilena counter or stall and try them out yourself first and see if it sits well with you. I'm not over the moon with this product, but I'm not completely disappointed either. At Php 75, I got more than I initially expected.

Check out how it looks on me. (All shots are done in natural lighting)

Eyes:

  ~ NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Lime from Digital Traincase

~ Maybelline VolumExpress Mascara

~ Etude House Oh M'Eyes Volume and Length Mascara

~ The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Tone Correcting Concealer in 01

~ Palladio Rice Concealer Stick

Face:

~ Myra Daily Sun Protect Moisturizer SPF 10

~ Ever Bilena Mousse Matte Foundation in Walnut

Cheeks:

~ Ever Bilena Mousse Blush in Cinnamon (contour)

~ 17 All About Nude Summer Palette Cream Blusher

Lips:

~ Forever 21 lip gloss

Please pardon the sabog hair. I haven't combed my hair yet. :))

Please pardon the messy background. :P
It's so hoooot inside the house!
The dirty kitchen/the garage seemed like the better-ventilated areas at home. :)

What's your latest cheap thrill? Have you tried this foundation yet? How was your experience? :)

Love,

SGT <3

Cavi-trip!

Happy Saturday, loves! How's your weekend so far? Mine's been pretty busy! It actually started last Thursday when I watched Sipat Lawin Ensemble's Battalia Royale in Cubao with my Tanghalang Pilipino classmate and friend, Agnes. I was lucky enough to score a slot in the guest list to watch their technical dress rehearsal, or as we lovingly call it in theater, the TDR. I also ran into my friend Kiko Miranda who was part of the cast where he played Lakhi Yoo. I'll write all about the play and show you some of the action in a separate post.

After the show, Agnes and I trooped to Cubao to grab a late dinner and a few rounds of drinks at Uncle Cheffy (side note: Try their East Meets West pizza and Mojito!). We met up with Aerol and Tootoots (friends from Dakila) for more drinks in Cubao Expo.

Then the next day, I travelled halfway across Luzon to Los Banos to get my transcript and meet up with a few friends as well. It was fruitful, to say the least. ;)

Anyway, so here we are now, and today we went to Cavite to visit a few family friends from Bacolod. We were served empanada (yum!), iced tea, laing (my favorite!), rice, palabok, and fried fish. It really pays to sit down  and have a few laughs while eating. It makes the meal that much more enjoyable, even if you only have bagoong for viand. Also, I learned a lot of tips and tricks in terms of beauty and other practical advice from an Occupational Therapy professor from DLSU Manila. The house owner's husband was from UP and he was telling us about his time at his fraternity. It made me want to join a sorority again. Okay, maybe in grad school.

Also, I had the chance to pet and play with cats! I love cats but my mom won't let me take care of one because  she has allergies. You should really meet Darky, a fat, lazy, and vain kitty cat. He loves posing for pictures!

Here's a visual run-down of today's events:

Inside-the-car-with-nothing-much-to-do shot.

Who says you can't wear black on a summer day?
Random top, Multi-layered electric-pleated skirt (Php80/$2),
 Happy Feet bakya (got these on sale for Php750), Creato bag (Php150/$4)

I have big feet. And they are happy. :)

Meet Dougar (meaning: duling na Garfield). He walks with a limp and has epileptic episodes. Poor baby.

Ang saya-saya lang ni Mommy!

Forgot to ask for his name! He's the well-informed professor who we're very happy to meet!

Lunch is ready!

Laing! My fave!

The prettiest girls are the happiest girls!

Lola Cil. She's a really joyful person. I admire her dedication to her Catholic faith.

And then there's Darky. See? Told you he's fierce! ;)

I'm sorry I can't write decently right now. These past few days have been really hectic! I always come home just wanting to crawl into bed and stay there. I'll make it up to you, I promise! ;)

Love,

SGT <3

Girly in the City

Today, we dropped by The Medical City in Ortigas to visit a family friend, Ate Mitch, who recently underwent spine surgery for her bulging discs. It's been a day since her operation and she's doing great... in pain, but in good spirits.  

For today's outfit, I decided to go off-road and try something I haven't done before. I wore this custom-made batik dress for the first time. I initially wanted to wear my eclectic pink wedges from Celine but I figured since I'll be walking for a major part of the day, it won't exactly be practical and comfortable so I unearthed my trusty ol' Chucks and fishnets to make the entire look more interesting.

So what does this have to do with being a Girl on a Budget? Well, for starters, I had the dress custom-made by our local mananahi or seamstress for Php 200 or around $5. I got the cloth from a barter market in Zamboanga for about Php 130 or a little less than $3.50. The turquoise necklace costs around Php 90 (a little over $2) and I got it from my favorite wholesale accessories shop in Quaipo, Manila. The store is found along the street directly across the main entrance of the Quiapo Church. It's owned by either a Korean or a Chinese girl (sorry). I love going there because they have the cutest stuff at rock-bottom prices! You get even bigger discounts if you buy wholesale (meaning: 6 pieces and up - Trust me, you can't resist their great buys and bargains!). 

I was feeling a little girly than usual today. My first itinerary was the Dakila office in Kalayaan. 'Twas a long commute from Santa Rosa (where I live) to Quezon City. Would you believe that I almost got lost in Cubao on my way to my mom's office in Ortigas? There had been many renovations and relocations that I had a hard time looking for landmarks near the bus stops. :| So yes, I made rampa in Cubao with this whole ensemble! It was actually fun to see people stare and wonder what the hell I was thinking when I put the outfit on this morning. I just smiled, held my head high, and worked it. Confidence is free, after all. Plus, the people's curiosity is priceless!

So when I got to Ortigas, we made our way to the hospital then it was off to lunch with my sister-from-another-mother, Camille (aka Cacai). It was nice to catch up with her again. It's been ages since we last hung out and talked about some of our most favorite subjects - theater, college, fashion, and boys! I promise to take pictures of Cacai the next time I see her! I was such in a whirlwind that I forgot!

Anyway, another budget-friendly tip is this: have your local seamstress make your clothes. It will not only save you money (department store garbs cost a lot these days; boutique brands even more so!), it will also ensure that you get the fit, look, and feel that you want. You can opt to shop for your own cloth or material so you know how it feels on your skin for when you wear it later on. Then, surf the internet for inspirations. I usually go to Forever 21's website for the latest styles and trends then I have the seamstress "copy" the look and tweak a couple of things, if necessary. All-in-all, I think I saved Php 800 with this dress alone (compared to when I buy one off-the-rack). This option is a good alternative when you don't have enough moolah to splurge on new designer duds. After all, when you rock the look, who would know the difference? ;)

Thanks to my soul sister, Cacai for taking these shots. <3
Vote for this look on Chictopia HERE

Hello, old friend!

Just lettin' loose and havin' me some fun!

I say ROCK IT and forget what people say! Smile and feel that wind on your hair when you sa-shay down that runway, dahling! :)

My visitor sticker won't stick anywhere else! Looks like it found a cozy place in my New York & Co.  bangles. ($3)

Turquoise on pink? WHY NOT?

What's your ultimate save-up trick when it comes to shopping?

Love, 

SGT <3

Vintage Queen

Ukay-ukay. It's the one place in the world where you can test your determination and taste, as well as your budget. When times are tough, or if you're just looking for a fresh take on a whole new outfit and if you don't mind wearing hand-me-downs or surplus goods, the ukay-ukay is the place to go. I like going to vintage shops for new old clothes because I find them charming and each piece has its own history and character.

Thrift shopping is definitely a must-try if your wallet's running dry. There's almost always one in every corner! I guarantee you, 500 bucks will go a looong way. Whilst a single jacket may cost you 500 pesos in stores (even more, for sure!), you can get about three good pieces of clothing in ukay shops. However, it's not for everyone. If you have an allergy to dust (like me), you'd want to steer clear or take extra care when shopping. Also, if you don't think you can part with branded, designer duds, ukay might be a poor man's trade for you. Trust me, it wouldn't hurt to try. You might find it enjoyable in the long run! It's like a treasure hunt... you'll never know what great pieces you can pull out from the stacks and the racks, stuff which you CANNOT find in department stores, and are truly one-of-a-kind!

What's even better is it's all up to you to work the outfit and make it look like you pulled an arm and a leg to pay for it. Confidence is key! Everyone will be surprised that you got your clothes from the underestimated ukay-ukay if you carry it with flair and attitude, trust me!

There are a few reminders I would recommend when trying out ukay shopping for the first time...

• Bring wet wipes or alcohol. Ukay clothes can get really dusty and dirty.
• Carry a messenger bag (or a small sling bag). It's much easier to navigate when you have both hands to work with.
• Take a friend with you, that way you won't overindulge in the dirt-cheap goodies and maintain class and taste in your picks.
• Bring a mask, if necessary, especially if you have allergies. Air-conditioning units can make the dust situation (inside the ukay shops) worse.
• Try to fit your picks. Don't even bother dressing up when going ukay shopping. Wear comfortable clothes so you can try on outfits in a breeze.
• Check the clothes for holes, discolorations and stains, and other faults or tears. Keep in mind that quality need not be sacrificed for the low price you're going to pay for the clothes. 
• Just have fun and keep an open mind! You'll never know what gems you'll unearth from the piles of clothes, bags, and shoes!

Here's a sample of a dress I bought yesterday for Php 80. Stay tuned for more outfit posts (of clothes that I got for Php 200 or less!) and try to make them look anything but cheap and worn out. 

I got this dress for Php 80, believe it or not! The jacket's from Bangkok, the shoes are from Parisian (another great brand of affordable and fabulous footwear), the accessories are from my own line, Luxe and Luster, and the bag is from Sophie Signatures.

Credits to my dad for taking the pictures. <3 He's a budding photographer!

 

Tell me all about your favorite vintage finds!

Love,

SGT <3

Cheap Thrills

Earlier this morning, a tweet was posted by ANC: "What are your cheap thrills?"

Well, since time immemorial, I have always been a true-blue kuripot. It's not that I don't enjoy the finer things in life, I just like to think I'm a tad bit practical and always thinking of the rainy days. I try not to go on impulse-buying sprees. I love sales (who doesn't?). I'm not very picky  when it comes to food, although I steer clear of consuming red meat and other indulgent goodies I used to enjoy, 20 pounds ago. I try to scour the market for the best deals on cosmetics and beauty products (hence my recommendations) and I also try to patronize locally-manufactured and organic products. Going green isn't for the elite anymore. Everyone can afford to help out Mother Nature in their own way and it won't cost you as much as you thought.

Anyway, hmm, what else... Oh yeah, I loooove visiting second-hand bookstores such as Booksale. If I'm lucky, I find great books, even hardbound ones, for a fraction of the cost! I also discovered this quaint spa in Los Banos, which offers great services for rock-bottom prices. The only downside is that it's tucked into the streets of UPLB (which you're gonna have to spend gas and toll fee for), but when you're in town, make sure to check it out, it's called V-Lounge. Their massages are to-die-for and they have great service staff. I always get a foot spa and mani-pedi combo whenever I come for a visit. Those services would cost me twice as much here in Santa Rosa. I also like downloading movies and series, or copying from friends (I know piracy is illegal but let's admit it, who doesn't own downloaded movies and videos nowadays?), although an actual movie date with friends and family is awesome also (especially if it's their treat!).

It's not a big secret that I love raiding ukay-ukay shops for one-of-a-kind finds. They're practically everywhere! Vintage clothing, more often than not, is the first option for me whenever I need new clothes for events and such but don't have quite the budget for it, so I go for new old ones instead. But don't get me wrong, I do like rewarding myself with nice things every now and then, it's just I don't see the point in splurging on trends when you can easily find similar-looking items for less. Also, why spend 700 pesos on a thin, cropped top, when you can about 8 to 10 pieces of clothing with that money in ukay stores? One reminder though, you have to be ready against dust and dirt when scouring the ukay racks.

*sigh* I could go and on about this. Perhaps we can discuss more about this in the future? But for now, how about you tell me what your ultimate cheap thrills are?

Love,

SGT <3