Zoom In On: Liole Blooming Pinky Tint

Generally, I prefer wearing powder blushes to cheek tints. However, when the weather is as crazy hot and humid as it is these days, powder blushes can get easily melted by the tons of sweat we make. This made me reconsider using cheek tints. For my first foray in this type of cheek color, I chose Liole Blooming Pinky Tint. This beauty has garnered several raves from makeup addicts and had been declared to be the equally (if not better) effective dupe of Benefit’s Posie Tint. It was out of the question for me to get the latter since I am not willing to spend more than Php 1,000 for a cheek tint since I was not even sure if they would be “hiyang” with me.

Liole Pinky Tint features a “nail-polish” type of applicator which I thought was funny at first. I could only imagine how funny I’d look to people who did not know better. They’d think I’m crazy putting nail polish on my cheeks. 

 

Yay! 

• Has a bubblegummy scent that I love. The texture of the tint on initial application is thicker as compared to that of TBS lip and cheek tint (review to follow!).
• Does not dry fast upon application making it easier to blend on the cheeks. 
• Superb staying power (it stayed on my cheeks for more than 12 hours). 
• Less expensive yet works as great as more expensive cheek tints.

Nay!

• Shows up on my cheeks after two or more swipes.
• Smudges on my fingers (but can be easily removed by using a hand sanitizer). 
• Can be really tricky to apply and blend especially for those who are new at using cheek tints.
• Can be very inconvenient to use because of its packaging. 
• Not sold locally. 

 Thanks chicas!

Zoom In On: Prestige Vinyl Wear Lip Gloss

If you are lucky, you’d be able to find great bargains through Ebay.ph. There was a time when I’d buy something through this virtual store almost every week. I’m sure almost all veteran online shoppers have their own stories to tell regarding their Ebay best buys. On a personal note, I consider my Prestige Vinyl Wear Lip Glosses as one of my online best buys. These were sold at only Php 50 each. I got two shades, Merengue and Belly Dancing. I think the latter was only a freebie since I got a lot of items from the Ebay seller at that time.

Retailing at $4.95, these are really great drugstore lip glosses.  For a better look at other shades, read this. 

I got Merengue, which is apparently a dupe for Chanel Glossimer in Electric.

 While Merengue can be described as "coral-orange", Belly Dancing has more violet tones and dries up to a darker, mauve red shade.

 Yay!

Ø These babies are super pigmented.
Ø Aside from the superior color-payoff, these also have superb staying power. (Better than that of MAC and Stila, IMO)
Ø Can be worn alone or on top of a lippie. (I prefer wearing it alone since the shades I got are very pigmented.
Ø The vinyl formulation lends high-wattage shine to the lips.

Nay!

Ø Texture is rather sticky and feels thick upon application.

Ø Shade appears to be darker right after being applied on the lips. (It neutralizes after some time however.)

Ø Packaging leaves so much to be desired though. (Applicator dipped to the other half of the tube every application.)

Ø May not be sold as cheaply when bought from traditional stores like Beauty Bar.

How about you ladies, what’s your Ebay best buy?

Thanks chicas for taking the time to read this post!

HELP!

Girls, I have some stuff that I'm letting go. Please help me get these stuff off my dresser :) Buzz me if interested.  

Just click on any of the pics under the "Adopt These" label and you will be led to a Flickr photostream of these items. 

I am very meticulous about my stuff so you can be assured that these items are in great condition and are kept in clean and pet-free envi. I'm also OC so if you text me, I'd be able to reply to you right away. 

Thanks chicas!

Stash Staple: Stila Lip Glaze

I have tried tons of lip glosses from MAC lipglasses, MAC lip varnish, Mineral Lip Glosses, Burt's Bees Lip Gloss, to lip glosses from drugstore brands like Loreal, Maybelline, and Revlon but these are the ones that I LOVE best.

I love the packaging and I find the item design practical and hygienic  as opposed to the conventional lip gloss with the applicator attached to the cap. These lip glazes are also not as sticky and thick as MAC lip glosses which is another plus point for me. Of the four mini lip glazes that I have (part of the Lip Glaze Holiday Collection), I love cranberry (fourth from the top) and plum fairy (second from the top) the most. The full size lip glaze (Ultimate Pink), on the other hand, was the one that was part of the Ulti Mate Set that I purchased last year. I'm having no regrets purchasing these and would probably buy more in the future once I use up or dispose my other lip glosses from other brands. The packaging of the lip glazes reveals that shelf life is "12 months" so while I'd want to hoard many of these at one time,  it would not be practical. 

When I was roaming around the local HBC store, I noticed that this local brand also has something similar to the Stila Lip Glazes, down to the packaging and brush applicators. You might want to try them if you don't want to splurge on Stila.

Thanks chicas! 

P.S. As a certified Gleek, I was pleased when I saw "Rachel Berry" using this in one of the episodes of Season One. Yey to Stila Lip Glaze!

Pucker Up with Pink Lips!

I have read so many raves about MAC's Pink Nouveau Lippie. I learned that this is the favorite lipstick shade of Ruffa Gutierrez. In her weekly Phil. Star Beauty Column, my idol (lol!) , Lucy Torres-Gomez, also made mention of this MAC lippie. It is OOS all over Manila so I made sure to include this in my "to-buy" list when a friend went to the US last month. 

 

It is described as a "bright pink" in the official website of MAC. This is also Lady Gaga's favorite pink lippie and her eponymous Viva Glam Lippie was inspired by this. It has a "satin finish" but on me, it is kinda matte. It is a little drying too so I make sure to put some lip salve prior to applying this.

I actually loved this when I first wore it. I find, however, that its pinkish shade vanishes and turns into a darker rosey shade a few hours after wearing it. I don't know the reason for this but I'm deducing that it might be because I'm acidic. I also noticed that it wears off easily making me a little disappointed with it. Lately, I noticed that if I don't place any lip balm underneath it, it adheres better to my lips and lasts longer.

I'm not quite sure if I like this shade.My best buddy at work also told me that it looks weird on me lol. (Might be because she's not used to seeing me wear this shade of pink before).  Personally, I think it looks "bagay" on me but I dunno, maybe my judgement is influenced by the fact that I really want to love this. Anyhoo, this is something that you would not want to wear if you don't want to grab anybody else's attention. 

Here is a comparison swatch of Nyx Lousiana (left), MAC Pink Nouveau (middle), and Loreal Pure Pink (right). The latter is the one that I included in my Project 10 pan. Off topic, I so love this shade. Is there any MAC lippie shade that is close to this? Lemme know. 

Here are some pics of me wearing MAC Pink Nouveau in different lighting.

Thanks chicas!

Haul!

Last month, an online friend ( sis AD) went to the U.S. She asked me if I wanted her to get me some makeup stuff while she was there sans the service charge and shipping fees. I readily agreed. These are the stuff that I asked her to buy. Boy was I happy when I finally had these in my hands. 

MAC Pink Nouveau Lippie

MAC Girl About Town Lippie 

MAC Studio Finish Concealer with SPF 35 in NW25 

Three Lavish Layers of Lip Balm from Rosebud Salve  

(includes Original Rosebud Salve, Minted Rose Lip Balm, & Strawberry Lip Balm) 

I will try to review all of these. I liked all of them but the item that I always reach out for is Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm. BTW, if you are interested in the Strawberry Lip Balm (brand new, still sealed),  please let me know. I wanted to try this but I know it would take me years to use up the two other lip balms that I have already opened. 

Thanks Chicas! 

Project 10 Pan

Warning: Picture Heavy Post! 

I was inspired by the Project 10 Pan initiated by some beauty bloggers so I decided to follow suit. As I have decided to do this, I vow (so help me God!) not to make any makeup purchase until I have used up or at least hit pan with the items I am including in this project.

These are the items that I would have to have maximum use of for the next days:

1. Avon Simply Pretty Dual Powder Foundation in Natural Beige – about 85 %

2. Stila Eyeshadow in Golightly (from the Ulta Mate set) – about 98 %

3. Mary Kay Crème Lipstick in Toffee – about 50 %
- I have never ever used up a tube of lipstick and I am determined to be able to do so through this project.

4. Loreal Color Supreme Lipstick in Pure Pink – about 40%
- Such a lovely, lovely shade. I’m searching for a MAC shade similar to this. I find this shade of “pink” more wearable than MAC Pink Nouveau (which I recently acquired and love to bits yepey!)

5. Skin Food Peach Sake shade 2 sample – yep this is in a sample jar but I still find it a bit of a struggle to use it all up since very little is needed per application of BB creams. I plan to buy one in full-size after I’m done with this since this has become my favourite.

6. Kryolan Anti-Shine Powder – I have to confess that I’m not really into finishing powders but this piqued my interest since many kikays are raving about this. Fortunately, somebody gave me a generous sample of this for me to try.

7. Red Earth Soft Velvet Blush in Foxy Lady – this is one of my recent blush faves. I chose this from among my blushes because this is the smallest (and easiest to hit pan with lol!)

8. Revlon Beyond Natural Two-Way Powder Foundation in Tawny Beige – my college friend who is a MAC addict (paging Sunits!) swore that this is better than MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundie so I just had to try this.

9. Dickinson’s Pore Perfecting Toner – I really love this but sometimes, I’d skip using this and go directly to applying moisturizer which is my I have decided to include this in my Project 10-pan.

10. Obagi Nuderm Sunblock with SPF 35 – I have almost used up my Neutrogena Ultra Sheer sunblock so I decided to buy this for me to use this summer.

And so, from this day onwards, I will refrain from making any more makeup purchase (save for those transactions that had already been finalized before this post). I will update you with the status of this project from time to time. The items that I will be featuring in the next days would be purchases made prior to this Project 10-pan.

Ciao!

Thank You!

I know it sounds cliché but I never expected that this blog would have followers. As I post this, I already have 51 gorgeous followers. To all of you, super thank you! I am thinking of having a contest at the end of this month exclusively for my followers as my way of expressing my gratitude. By “followers”, I am referring to those who have already followed my blog even before the contest and not those who will be following me to be able to join the contest.

I’m thinking of giving away a blush from my favourite blush brand (check my posts to see what brand this is!) and some other makeup must-haves to a lucky follower. I have yet to iron out the mechanics and other details for this contest so stay tuned for that. I want this to be different from the usual blog contests. My BF is graduating from med school mid part of this month and we have plans to go OTT few days after that so I may have this contest launched end of this month or early next month.

Zoom In On: MAC TLC in Pink Fish

I have read positive reviews about MAC’s Tinted Lip Conditioners (TLCs). So, when an opportunity to acquire this item was dangled before me, I immediately grabbed it. I got Pink Fish, one of the TLCs in the Hello Kitty Collection launched last year. Retailing at Php 850, this is actually value for money considering how huge the container is. I also love the trademark vanilla scent that it has. Scents in lip products do not really bother me. In fact, I have grown to love MAC lippies because of their distinct scent. The vanilla whiff is even more pronounced with the TLC.

Pink Fish is often described as a sheer milky pink shade. Personally, I thought it was too sheer and looked rather pale on my lips. I think this would have been perfect if paired with really intense, vibrant, or smokey eye makeup. Unfortunately, that is not characteristic of me. Therefore, I only used this primarily for moisturizing my lips and not really for aesthetic purposes. As for its moisturizing properties, I find it rather at par with that of Burt’s Bees and Venus & Mars’ Smooch lip balm, both of which are significantly cheaper than the former.

When this was fairly new, I made sure to bring this daily. However, I soon observed that this had become one of the least used items in my makeup kit. Why? Because you would need to use a lip brush for this. Well, you could also dip your pinky on it but I find that unhygienic. I actually have a lip brush that I bring daily but unfortunately, using it for touch-ups is such a hassle for me. Now I understand why many beauty bloggers wished that its packaging be changed.

Truth be told, I have not been that impressed with the Pink Fish TLC. However, I might entertain the idea of purchasing another one in the future. This time though, I will choose a more vibrant shade. Despite the so-so experience with this item, I am so grateful to my online sister (ZM, I heart u sis!) for giving me the chance to try this.