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.

Joining the BB Bandwagon!

I'm hooked! After 48 years, I was finally convinced (by dear friend Zai) to join the BB bandwagon. In fact, just this month alone, I was able to acquire enough BBs to last me years. 

 

Care to share to me your choice BBs sisses? I am presently loving Skin Food Peach Sake. I only have a sample of it. It is the one contained in the round plastic container. I'm getting a full-size soon. 

Gloria Gloria!

Sorry girls for not having new posts the past two weeks. Been busy with work. 

Anyway, just want to share one of the most memorable events in my life. 

How many girls have stood inches from the incumbent President of the Philippines? Not many, I'm sure. 

I am lucky I'm one of them. I even got to shake her hand :)

Sorry for the blurry pics. They were taken from my phone. The PSGs were so pesky I did not have any time to take decent pics. Personally, I am not a fan of GMA but I was still enthralled and starstruck when I saw her. She's a lot prettier in person than on TV. Her makeup was fabulous despite the non-elegance of the affair. (I'm sure she has a plethora of MUAs for that lol.) 

Ciao!

Zoom In On: Nars Blush in Luster

I’m so crazy with Luster. I love this so much that I am contemplating on getting a back-up of this soon. It’s shade is unique and quite versatile and I love that there is not that many dupes of this shade unlike Orgasm. Just like other Nars blush shadesw, its shimmery finish is so subtle that it would not overwhelm one’s face. I was compelled to get this when Lucy Torres recommended this particular shade in her Phil. Star column. (It’s obvious that I regularly read her Wednesday column noh?)

In addition, my online research revealed that Luster would be really flattering especially to those with lighter skin tones. Madly, a shade that is similar to Luster, is said to be more flattering to those with darker skin tones. By the by, I am happy that I found this because it provides me with an alternative during those times when I don’t feel like wearing the more common peach-pink blush shades. 

I was not able to take pictures of Nars Luster swatches but I will leave you with an FOTD. Trust me, its shade on the pan may look like blah but it really is gorgeous when appplied on the cheeks. 

Zoom In On: Smashbox Fusion Eye and Cheek Color in Heat Wave

Smashbox is one of the brands that are sold in Beauty Bar. Reviews for the Smashbox brand are varied. Some claimed that it is overrated and that its makeup products are not that spectacular while others say that their items deserve the not-so-friendly-to-the-wallet price tags.

Net Weight: 12 oz. , 3.4 g
Shelf Life: 12 months

This review will center on the Fusion Eye and Cheek Color which I initially liked because of the versatility of the palette. This includes three complementary shades that can be individually used as eyeshadows or blush. A blush brush can also be swiped across all three colors to create a nice blush shade.

Yay!:

• This features a screw-type lid cover. This is an advantage because it ensures that it would not be accidentally opened keeping the product that it housed more securely.
• The lid also has a clear glass on its surface which makes it easier to glimpse the shades in the palette. (Would be especially helpful if you have more than one versions of this)
• The shades are designed to complement each other so no need to fuss about whether or not they can be used together. 
• When used as eyeshadows, they have decent staying power. Based on experience, they lasted for about 4-5 hours on my not-to-oily lids with only an eyeshadow base used with it. Among the three, I like using the third shade, the most pigmented one, the most. I also use the uppermost shade as an all-over lid color. 
• Very travel-friendly packaging. 
• Does not have any bothersome scent.

Nay!:

• The lid cover can be very inconvenient to open as it features a screw-type design. This is especially so when you are in a hurry or if your hands are both occupied.
• Except for the lowermost shade, pigmentation is so-so. 
• Poor staying power when used as a blush. However, this might last longer on gals who stay inside airconditioned rooms most of the day. 
• The item is small making it a bit difficult to swirl one’s blush brush on it. 
• Fall-outs can be seen when dipping a blush or eyeshadow brush on it.
• Almost as expensive as MAC, which has better e/s and blush. 

Thanks chicas!Ciao!

Zoom In On: Laura Mercier Undercover Pot

Concealers are a staple in every makeup-loving girl’s stash. These are especially handy when we have zits or blemishes that we do not want to take centerstage in our faces. They are also the instant solution to even out discolorations in the facial area like the undereyes and the sides of the nose to create a flawless look. Contrary to what many think, it is a pain-in-the-arse to look for a concealer that works.

For the last six months, I had been using Laura Mercier Undercover Pot.

Here are the things that I like about it:

 

• features two types of concealers, Secret Camouflage and Secret Concealer; both formulated to conceal undereye circles, blemishes and scars 
• very easy to blend 
• consistency of both concealers are not too dry and not too gooey or creamy 
• relatively long staying power (about four hours max, but bear in mind girls that I am not trapped in an airconditioned room when I work). It probably would last longer for girls who stay inside their offices. 
• very chic and compact packaging with two compartments, the upper one contains the concealers and a mirror and the bottom compartment for the loose powder that is used to set the concealers.

I don’t like that:

• its packaging requires that its user bring a separate concealer brush for application
• the design of the concealer compartment is not very hygienic since the entire contents of the product gets exposed to air, dirt, and other undesirable elements every time the lid is lifted. 
• the concealer shades are now too light on me huhu A beach outing last month made me a shade darker. I haven’t used this lately since I don’t want to sport a reverse-raccoon eyes look at work.

I love this concealer kit but I could not say that this is my HG. Simply because I haven’t tried too many concealers yet.

Ciao! Hope you find this review helpful.