What I got at the International Press Shopping Day: Guerlain, Shiseido and Elizabeth Arden

I was lucky enough to catch the recent International Press Event where my favorite beauty brands were sold at amazing prices. I definitely felt like a jet-setter that day as I “travelled” to London, Paris, Tokyo and New York while I shopped my go-to brands: Elizabeth Arden, Guerlain Paris, Shiseido and Peter Thomas Roth. It was such a treat to have access to all these great products, and get exactly what I need for the New Year.

We were each given boarding passes and currency to spend for the products we wanted. And the catch was, we had to watch out for the currency rates on the big screen, which fluctuated according to the supply and demand of the products. So, if say, a lot of people were buying Shiseido products, it’s currency (yen) would go up, and it will cost you more to buy it. The idea was to be smart with your purchases, also to be decisive and purchase quickly because some products did run out at the end of the day.

So, okay. I wanted to share with you my favorites from the sale, which can hopefully help you decide on buying that specific product in the future. Personally, I am a huge fan of Shiseido and Guerlain, so this review shows mostly these brands.

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Guerlain Gold Palette (Holiday 2017) is a limited edition eye and cheek palette that contains six eye shadows and two blushes. It has a very wearable selection of colors for the eyes and cheeks, which I like, and includes matte browns and shimmery golds and bronze tones. This can definitely take you beyond the holidays, and somehow I can picture myself wearing this palette at the peak of summer. According the brand, the eye shadows can be used dry for a natural finish, and wet for a lustrous effect. I think the blushes work well with most skin tones, though I prefer the lower right one as it delivers a more natural look. The white shimmery powder can also be used as a highlighter for the cheekbones, noseline and brow bone.

I discovered Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant when I was a model in Hong Kong, and I had a makeup artist use it on my lips. I loved how quickly it nourished my usually dry lips, and eversince I’ve always bought my own tube. The good news is it takes forever to finish one whole tube if you only use it for your lips, but this skin protectant actually works well for extra dry skin during super cold weather. You’ll find that your skin will absorb this thick ointment-like paste and create a nice barrier against the cold and dry weather. For a tropical country like the Philippines, you wont be using it as much–maybe just for the lips and if you have unusually dry elbows, knees and feet. A must-have in any makeup kit, in my opinion.

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Guerlain Orchidee Imperiale Exceptional Complete Care The Cream (4th Generation) is one of the best skincare creams out there. It is infused with precious diamond powder, which helps capture light energy and diffuse for an instant sophisticated radiance. It also has a New Cell Respiration technology that delivers superior efficacy inside the skin. Other benefits: it regulates cellular respiration and combats hypoxia (oxygen deficiency), and helps minimize visible signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines. To be honest, the results of using this seems almost instant. You will really see how much more hydrated your skin is when you apply it. And though I don’t really have evident wrinkles and fine lines yet, I woke up looking refreshed after applying it the night before which for me says a lot.

I remember how my grandmother used Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules in her time, and how my sister and I were amazed with how it looked. This brought me back, and I was happy to test these out on my skin for a change. These capsules contain Ceramides 1, 3 & 6, which can easily be absorbed through the skin layers to maintain skin’s moisture and tautness. It also includes Fatty acids, Cholesterol (new addition), Phytosphinosine (lipid), Sea Fennel extract, Alfa Alfa extract, Tsubaki oil (rich in Vit A, B, D & E and Omegas 3,6 & 9) & Retinyl Palmitate (Vit A). I’ve been using this for two weeks and so far my skin has responded well to it. My skin is usually on the dry side, but it no longer felt this way after applying this nightly before sleeping.

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If you’re not too keen on buying an entire tube of Eight Hour Cream but want the same moisturization on your lips, well, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Sheer Tints might just be for you. This allows you to keep your lips super moisturized while delivering a light color on your lips. I think this is a great everyday lipstick, as it contains my favorite hydrating cream in yummy, wearable colors.

Guerlain Terracotta Gold Light is an instant favorite. Actually, I’ve been a fan of the Terracotta line for some years now as I love how it lends a radiant glow to my skin, which is perfect for summer. This works so well as a highlighting powder.

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I always stock up on Shiseido Refreshing Cleansing Sheets as it effectively and very easily removes my makeup. This is especially convenient when I travel and want to remove my makeup in just a few swipes. This does just that, and takes out stubborn eyeliner and mascara without having to use another eye makeup remover. I still wash my face with a cleanser after though, just to be sure all traces of makeup is removed.

I’ve been meaning to use a lip conditioner/color with sun protection for some time now but I could never seem to find the right one. I think Shiseido UV Lip Color Splash SPF 42 does the job perfectly, and has a thick consistency that I like using underneath my lipsticks. It keeps my lips moisturized and happy, which is so important because I’ve been all about matte lipsticks lately.

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Guerlain Meteorites CC Glow Color Correcting Highlighter is made to effectively neutralize minor skin tone flaws. Each color has a specific correcting property: green helps to neutralize redness; pink refreshes dull complexions; and apricot helps erase areas of shadow and minor dark spots, offsetting the color blue to counter dark circles. Its unique fluid formula is enriched with the Precious Rejuvenating Effect Complex, which is easy to apply and corrects the complexion with a touch of radiance. I’ve found that the pink highlighter works best to brighten my olive complexion.

Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil is a revolutionary formula that combines the power of a serum, with the richness of an oil and the freshness of a lotion to get skin that appears smoother, plump-looking and revitalized. Personally I love how light this feels on my skin, and is incredibly silky-soft to the touch. I usually apply a few drops to my foundation and I find that it effectively keeps my skin moisturized even after hours of having makeup on my face. It is a great everyday moisturizer–I always start my day by applying a few drops on my face.

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Guerlain KissKiss LoveLove is by far the cutest lipstick I’ve seen in a long time. It is in the shape of a heart and comes in a cute pink case with rainbow accents. I love this bright red color–it offers a vibrant, satiny finish that lasts a few hours. It isn’t like my favorite matte lipsticks, but what I like about it is that it enriches the lips with its hyaluronic acid, mango butter and commiphora oil formulation.

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Radiance Blush delivers natural-looking slightly shimmery colors that’s great for everyday wear. I got a taupish pink shade and wear it practically everyday. It has a great long-lasting color and delivers an even finish.